MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Bush fire in Falklands sets off dangerous .50 caliber rounds explosions
Fifty calibre rounds exploded in burning bushes as the Falkland Islands Fire and Rescue Service battled a gorse-bush fire in the early hours of January 6. Watch Manager Gene Berntsen told Penguin News this week that the rounds were heard by members of the public exploding before the arrival of the Fire Service and by fire-fighters as they tackled the fire. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesSomebody please correct me if I'm misunderstanding something...
Jan 10th, 2020 - 05:19 pm - Link - Report abuse -11) There has been a little gorse brushfire on Ross Street..., almost central Puerto Estanley..., adjacent to the School...
2) Anybody over the age of forty (40) in Puerto Estanley knows that Argie anti aircraft guns were placed there under the war...
3) The brushfire has apparently ignited some of the .50 ammunition left on the ground...
After nearly 40 years......,wouldn't it be time for some adult to locate and remove the ammo from the parks of central Puerto Estanley before them school kiddos do...?
(It's UN law..., and the occupiers are obliged to do it..., FYI...)
A 50 dollar metall detector would do..., Chays...!
A .50 round is quite massive at about 15 cm long..., you know...?
First of all - it's not “Central Stanley ( not ”Porto Estanley). Secondly, whilst UN advises removal of Landmines it does not legally state that the occupied country remove all military crap from previously occupied land, otherwise all WW2 crap would be the responsibility of placing nation, eg bombs in Coventry are Germann problem and those in Berlin are UK / US issues.
Jan 10th, 2020 - 06:41 pm - Link - Report abuse +1RRMN...
Jan 10th, 2020 - 07:22 pm - Link - Report abuse -11) As I know Puerto Estanley..., the brushfire was quite “central”....
2) YOU are the occupiers/current squatting inhabitants and YOU are legally responsible for the removal of dangerous stuff...
If not for respect of UN rules and laws..., at least for respect of your own kids lives...
Capisce...?
What a great job the fire department did to contain the fire and prevent much worse damage. Well done ladies and gents, you deserve huge pats on the back from a very grateful community.
Jan 10th, 2020 - 09:59 pm - Link - Report abuse +1JB
Jan 11th, 2020 - 03:42 am - Link - Report abuse +1The work of firefighters is always great and very difficult in many cases because it is not only to put out a fire and in general they are volunteers
What I don't understand is that Argentina has to do with this
Guillote
Jan 11th, 2020 - 01:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Nothing except Argentine military likely left the ammo there I guess. The main news is the excellent job the fire department did in diverting disaster; not just to the nearby houses but also some other important infrastructure.
Probably quite a lot of Argy weaponry still lying around, now over grown.
Jan 11th, 2020 - 03:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Never fired, only dropped once.
Should have sold it second hand, could have recouped a little of the costs.
Jan 11th, 2020 - 03:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Pugol-H
Jan 11th, 2020 - 09:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Not so much weaponry lying around anymore but still some ammo. Plenty of both squirrelled away in folks’ properties.
Apparently...
Jb
Jan 12th, 2020 - 03:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0we are not talking about mines buried in remote places we are talking about ammunition that is near a school for more than 30 years
....... almost 38 years..., to be more precise...
Jan 12th, 2020 - 07:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0JB
Jan 12th, 2020 - 10:55 am - Link - Report abuse 0Like this? :)
https://youtu.be/Cun-LZvOTdw
Mr. Jo Bloggs...
Jan 12th, 2020 - 11:57 am - Link - Report abuse -3As you obviously don't care for the newer generatiions of Kelper lassies & lads..., surely 'cause you own daughters are grown up now and “improving the race” somewhere else..., what about those beloved fire department ladies and gents of yours...?
An exploding .50 cartridge could easily send their sweetbreads as far as the Endurance sign..., you know...?
I THINK not having removed All Dangerous War Detritus from Puerto Estanley by now shows a “Dicke Berta” calibre harebrainlessness...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzQqsYh1TBU
DT
Jan 12th, 2020 - 12:42 pm - Link - Report abuse +1Ha, ha. That’s a funny video. I don’t think folk should still be holding on to items acquired after the conflict and having a military background myself, I have not a scrap of produce.
Think
For once I agree with you.
What a nice way to end my MP viewing for the year. Catch you again around December-time this year.
DT JB
Jan 13th, 2020 - 04:52 am - Link - Report abuse 0Do you think this news is real?
GOOD work lisawatson
Think(?),
Jan 13th, 2020 - 09:50 am - Link - Report abuse +2Considering how long it has taken to locate and remove the landmines on the Islands, are you seriously suggesting that the FIG should effectively strip away several feet of topsoil / rock across Islands on the off chance of a carelessly discarded piece of 38 year old munition? I would suspect the rounds mentioned in the article were not only hidden from view beneath gorse but probably under several inches of soil. As evidenced by a number of finds over the past year people on the Islands remain aware of how to report any suspicious finds, and do so. It wasn't that long ago that signs still existed on beaches in the UK warning the public of the possibility of unexploded munitions. FIG, RFIP and BFSAI personnel continue to deal with reported finds appropriately and to a high standard.
I look forward to your highly knowledgeable response!
Mr. RMN...
Jan 13th, 2020 - 01:30 pm - Link - Report abuse -3Why don't you read what I wrote before embarrasing yourself...?...:
1) ***”Anybody over the age of forty (40) in PUERTO ESTANLEY knows that Argie anti aircraft guns were placed there under the war...”***
2) ***“After nearly 40 years......,wouldn't it be time for some adult to locate and remove the ammo from the parks of central PUERTO ESTANLEY before them school kiddos do...?”***
3) ***“I THINK not having removed All Dangerous War Detritus from PUERTO ESTANLEY by now shows a “Dicke Berta” calibre harebrainlessness...”***
4) ***“A 50 dollar metall detector would do..., Chays...!”***
- (Well..., maybe a 50 dollars metal detector ain't the ideal..., but a relative simple and not too expensive one like my XP Deus operated by anyone with an IQ over 70..., would be enough to locate most of the dropped ammo in the Puerto Estanley hamlet urban area in a matter of weeks...)
Capisce...?
Stanley was thoroughly searched after the war. But its impossible to find and remove every single bullet due to the amount left lying around. It was only a few bullets that exploded, not a massive weapons cache
Jan 13th, 2020 - 01:37 pm - Link - Report abuse +2Mr. BrianFI
Jan 13th, 2020 - 02:01 pm - Link - Report abuse -11) “The amount left lying around” wasn't any problem as long as it had any “Souvenir” value..., huhhhhh...?
2) The place in question is a little area..., well known as an Argie gun emplacement during the War..., almost in the center of town..., adjacent to the School...
3) Stop making excuses and get a detector...!
Capisce...?
Think;
Jan 13th, 2020 - 02:20 pm - Link - Report abuse +2I think you will find that the Argentine Anti-aircraft guns were 20mm and 30mm calibre and the nearest emplacement to the (ex)gorse bushes were either the 30mm ones at Victory Green, behind Dairy Paddock Road or on the Darwin Road. The 0.5 inch rounds referred to would have been for general purpose machine guns.
The area of the fire, as I assume you know from your extensive knowledge of Stanley which you earlier referred to, is not a “park”. I would hazard a guess that the rounds which detonated in the fire were not lying on the surface but would have been buried.
As BrianFI points out, extensive clearance did occur and as I stated, does occur if any suspicious objects are founds.
As for the idea that vast quantities of unexploded munitions have been left lying about “adjacent to the school”.....
By the way, referring back to your initial post, it is Ross Road, not “Ross Street”.
Geeeeeee....
Jan 13th, 2020 - 03:11 pm - Link - Report abuse -3What a treasure of useless information...
Amunition was buried..., huhhhh...? Well, I guess thats what metal detectors are for..., Chay...!
Anything but making sure that that Puerto Estanley hamlet is free of dangerous ammunition lying around (under some cms. Of dirt) for some 38 years and counting...
One would almost be tempted to Think that the only one that cares about then school kiddos is sweet Lisa Watson..., waiting for some juicy..., dramatic story to print...
Capisce...?
Well to you it is useless but I would call it accuracy.
Jan 13th, 2020 - 03:48 pm - Link - Report abuse +3No point continuing this conversation though I would sign off by suggesting that if someone came to my garden uninvited and left loads of potentially dangerous items behind, it is they who I would suggest were responsible for the act not me.
Accurate indeed..., but useless if not used to remove the war detritus..., Chay....
Jan 13th, 2020 - 04:00 pm - Link - Report abuse -3No point continuing this conversation..., I agree..., though I would sign off by remembering you that Argentina offered several times your Engrish masters to remove those dangerous items left behind in our Islands..., offers that were refused...
Capisce...?
Argentina wouldn't have found those bullets either.............. because it's literally impossible to locate every single stray bullet. The British forces did an excellent job of clearing up the mess you Argies left behind. A far better job than you Argies would have done
Jan 13th, 2020 - 05:03 pm - Link - Report abuse +3More lame excuses for Kelper apathy..., indolence & slothness...
Jan 13th, 2020 - 05:14 pm - Link - Report abuse -3More nonsense from an ignorant Argie that doesn't know what he's talking about. Firstly, the area is not easily accessible and something as small as a bullet could easily be missed. Secondly the school was not there in 1982. Finally you dirty Argies left so much mess, ammunition and booby traps the search will likely never end. Shame on your Argentina
Jan 13th, 2020 - 05:20 pm - Link - Report abuse +4BrianFI...
Jan 13th, 2020 - 06:26 pm - Link - Report abuse -31) ***“area is not easily accessible”*** ... Woooooooooooooooooot....???
2) ***“something as small as a bullet could easily be missed”***... At ~15cm long and ~120 grams of brass, lead, tungsten and other niceties...,a .50 round would make any metal detector sing like the angels..., Chay...
3) ***“Shame on your Argentina”***... Finally you arrived at the “Scope” of this PenguinPress article..., Chay..
- At ease now..., you can continue being apathic..., indolent & slothy...
Chuckle..., chuckle...
More ignorance from the Argie.
Jan 13th, 2020 - 07:35 pm - Link - Report abuse +31) Its in the middle of a Gorse Bush. Which is dense and covered in thorns, small objects can easily be missed, especially since the Argies left such a mess and hid booby traps and ammunition everywhere
2) Not accessible area. Easy to miss
3) Yes shame on you
Well....
Jan 13th, 2020 - 07:47 pm - Link - Report abuse -3I suppose that a small area of about 200 square meters..., covered by some gorse brushes..., placed inbetween two paved streets..., in the center of a Patagonian steppe hamlet must seem like the impenetrable Amazonas for a young apathic..., indolent & slothy Kelper...
If your greasy conscripts hadn't left so much ammunition lying around it wouldn't be an issue. Good thing the British military searched and removed everything they could find instead of your useless soldiers. Argies are shit at everything, so they would never have done the job properly
Jan 14th, 2020 - 01:52 am - Link - Report abuse +3“el brian”
Jan 14th, 2020 - 03:03 am - Link - Report abuse 0https://en.mercopress.com/2020/01/03/deminers-resume-work-in-falklands-following-a-road-accident-involving-five-of-its-members
These guys can surely find buried ammounition close to a school
:)
Oh well, round 2 (no pun intended).
Jan 14th, 2020 - 10:16 am - Link - Report abuse +3A few small additional comments from me.
1) This has been an unusual, though not unknown or unexpected event in Stanley. It has been dealt with safely and professionally by all involved. It seems entirely appropriate for it to be reported in The Penguin News. I struggle to find any jingoistic or overtly anti-Argentinian slate in the reporting.
2) This kind of occurrence will bring about an emotional response on both sides by the nature of the events which led to the lost ammunition.
3) I personally think that to use it to accuse the Islanders and their Government of irresponsibility is going too far. Contextually it is not a buried hoard of explosives, it is a few unexpended rounds of machine gun ammunitions. Sure there is a danger attached to t and hence the concerns when some exploded in the heat.
Guillote - to suggest that the demining programme is used to search for lost small arms ammunition, even in a small area such as Stanley would be a completely unprecedented event. Vast areas of the world have unexploded munitions buried under their soil. Farmers in Northern France / Belgium continue to plough up significant types and amounts of unexploded munitions from the First World War, sometimes resulting in death. All these finds are death with in exactly the same way as they are in Stanley. And yes, there are schools and hospitals built since WW1 on sites which no doubt contain buried unexpoded munitions.
Sign off time again I think!
Well.....
Jan 14th, 2020 - 11:24 am - Link - Report abuse -2Lets hope that this Puerto Estanley constituency episode..., dealt with safely and professionally by all involved.., did include a THROUGH METAL DETECTOR SWEEP of the now cleared & accesssible ~200 square meter area adjacent to the town school...
And I Think It would be entirely appropriate for The Penguin News to follow up this journalistic scoop with such reassuring details of great interest for the safety and wellbeing of the local residents...
Capisce..., Lisa...?
It's not even really close to the school ignorant Argie.
Jan 14th, 2020 - 01:02 pm - Link - Report abuse +2+ - 200 meters from the school..., as the crow flies...
Jan 14th, 2020 - 01:55 pm - Link - Report abuse -2Right wind direction...
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“Right wind direction...” for what?
Jan 14th, 2020 - 02:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0... for reaching school in a jiffy...
Jan 14th, 2020 - 02:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ENsY9tQXkAE5ca2?format=jpg&name=large
Oh I see, we're talking about floating bullets now......
Jan 14th, 2020 - 02:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Is this kind of a “Benny” joke...?
Jan 14th, 2020 - 02:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Just trying to understand what the wind direction has to do with old ammunition lying buried beneath some gorse bushes.
Jan 14th, 2020 - 02:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Ahhhhhh...
Jan 14th, 2020 - 02:37 pm - Link - Report abuse -1Well...
I was trying to explain that young and lazy BrianFI Kelper lad that the “parkisized area” affected by the fire is quite close to his school...
The wind direction reference was to give him an idea in which direction his school is...
Wind is important for us Patagonians..., you know...
Capisce...?
Think - yes, I have noticed over time that wind is a component of your personality.
Jan 14th, 2020 - 05:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0In fairness I rather object to you referring to BrianFI as being “young and lazy”. I do not know his age and certainly have no knowledge of his energy levels and motivation but although some of his language may be a little extreme I would suspect he has every reason to feel so. I do not and so speak as objectively as I can (sorry Think - I'm not giving away any further demographic details here).
Bottom line remains, in my view, that the location of the secondary school is an irrelevance since there is (was) no evidence to suggest any danger to pupils there.
RMN
Jan 14th, 2020 - 06:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0- “You have noticed over time that wind is a component of my personality”..., huhhhhhhh...?
Ouchhhh... ;-)))
“Sorry Think - You're not giving away any further demographic details here”..., huhhhhhhh...?
- Not necessary..., your style reminds me of one of me ex-misus's... (the cheekiest one ;-)
RMN
Jan 15th, 2020 - 03:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0I just read your position on the subject and the truth is late for me and it is easier to answer to “elbrian” than you because you are polite
tomorrow I finish giving you my opinion
Good night
If Argentina hadn't invaded illegally, there wouldn't have been any ammo there.
Jan 15th, 2020 - 11:49 am - Link - Report abuse 0If Engeland hadn't invaded in 1833, there wouldn't have been any ammo there.
Jan 15th, 2020 - 12:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0England did Not invade in 1833. Merely removed some trespassers. They had been warned. Twice.
Jan 16th, 2020 - 06:04 am - Link - Report abuse +1Argentina did not invade in 1982. Merely removed some trespassers. They had been warned. Plenty.
Jan 16th, 2020 - 09:29 am - Link - Report abuse -1Yawn....
Jan 16th, 2020 - 10:25 am - Link - Report abuse +2Here we go again...
Yawn...
Jan 16th, 2020 - 11:34 am - Link - Report abuse -1We didn't start it..., dahling...
(And stop using them ellipsis..., next they will accuse you of being me sock-puppet... ;-)
We seem to have finished it Think.
Jan 16th, 2020 - 11:53 am - Link - Report abuse +1Argentina has no move.
You ain't good at chess...,copper...
Jan 16th, 2020 - 12:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 08 moves to mate..., laddie..
RL where do you live?
Jan 18th, 2020 - 05:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0What do you think about tailandia?
Argentina has had no move since 1989, Think. Lots of bravado, but nowhere to place a piece. Nothing that has not been tried. Nothing that has not already failed. The UN won't help you. No-one else can help you. Mate.
Jan 18th, 2020 - 12:50 pm - Link - Report abuse -1Mate...?
Jan 18th, 2020 - 05:04 pm - Link - Report abuse -1Maybe if this chess match was being played by perfidious Albion's rules...
Which certainly is not the case..., matey...
Rl
Jan 19th, 2020 - 02:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0for me it is clear that uk does not believe in the right of self-determination and less you ,brexiter who lives in thailand
Think, let me know when Argentina makes a move ...... in case I miss it.
Jan 19th, 2020 - 02:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0Gullible - Perhaps little is clear to you. The UK fully supports the Islanders rights of self-determination. What you believe is of no consequence. And where I over-winter seems quite irrelevant.
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