  |
|
|
Department of Ecology News Release - May 04, 2007
07-115
SPOKANE - Fire broke out at approximately 6 p.m. Thursday at an illegal underground landfill in Adams County, southeast of Othello.
The landfill measures about 1,000 feet by 120 feet wide and the fire encompasses an area of approximately 250 feet wide by 100 feet long. The buried garbage ranges from plastic tubs and fiberglass items to refrigerators and freezers. The trash pile underground measures about 20 to 30 feet high.
"Our main concern is that nearby residents are aware that the air quality, due to the fire, is poor," said Environmental Health Director Brent Stenson, with the Adams County Health Department. "Residents in the path of the smoke with any type of respiratory problems should limit their exposure to the air."
The Adams County Health Department is on scene along with Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) emergency responders and Adams County Fire District #5.
"These types of fires, involving plastics and other hazardous constituents can burn for a very long time, said Chief Clyde Fought of Adams County Fire District #5. "Currently we don't know how it started and the exact cause is under investigation."
The fire district has applied approximately 9,000 gallons of water on the fire to control its spread.
A natural coulee, a deep steep-sided ravine formed by erosion, is adjacent to the landfill and flows downstream to the Skootney Reservoir, which belongs to the Bureau of Reclamation. Ecology responders are taking samples of the water to determine the impact the fire may have on water quality. The Bureau of Reclamation and the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District also have responded to the scene.
Adams County Health Department became aware of this landfill in December 2003 and ordered the former owner of the property and operator of the illegal landfill to cease dumping of all solid waste immediately.
###
Contact: Kate Brueske, Adams County Health Department, 509-488-2031
Jani Gilbert, Department of Ecology, 509-329-3495
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
