Fire at Waste Management Landfill in Parkland

UPDATE: Parkland County Fire Services continue to battle a fire at the GFL landfill east of Acheson.

Due to the nature of the fire conditions, site owners have engaged specialist industrial firefighting contractors to contain the fire.

The specialist contractors are on site as of today, and firefighting efforts are continuing around the clock. Air health quality for surrounding residents is a paramount concern, and all efforts are being made to minimize smoke spread.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

--------------

PARKLAND COUNTY – Fire crews responded to a blaze at the GFL landfill off 231 Street NW on Sunday night.

The site contains a mixture of demolition and construction waste and is located east of Acheson. The fire began in the southwest section of the site, after which fire crews remained there until midnight.

The county continues to work with GFL on a time-sensitive strategy to minimize the impact of the fire on the environment. This includes the deployment of private industrial firefighting contractors and the establishment of a large volume of water supply on the site. 

Efforts are being made to minimize the smoke from the fire with the air quality of the surrounding areas a priority. The county is working with Alberta Environment to make sure all safety measures are in place. Residents with underlying health issues or those who are concerned about the smoke are advised to take necessary precautions. For updated information about the air quality in your community, you can take a look at Alberta's Air Quality Health Index Map.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. With the nature of the materials involved in the incident, it may prove challenging to determine the exact cause. However, Parkland County Fire Services continues to gather all relevant information.

As per the county's orders, all operations in the landfill are suspended and will remain so until the fire is contained with zero risk.