Tsuu T'ina landfill fire is now extinguished
No reason to think hazardous material was burning, firefighter says
CBC News
Posted: Feb 10, 2012 8:42 AM MT
Last Updated: Feb 11, 2012 12:28 PM MT
The view from a helicopter shows the landfill fire on the Tsuu T'ina reserve. The fire is now out. (CBC)
The fire in a landfill at the Tsuu T'ina First Nation has been put out, according to Chief Sandford Big Plume.
The fire burned for three days and Calgary’s 311 information centre was inundated with calls from people complaining of stinky, acrid smoke.
An Alberta Health Services air quality advisory will remain in effect over the weekend, according to AHS spokesperson.
But the province’s Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) was listed as 3 out of 10 on Friday afternoon – low risk — as much less smoke was wafting over Calgary.
Ward 13 Alderman Diane Colley-Urquart said her office has received hundreds of calls over the past three days from irate Calgarians wanting answers about what exactly was burning.
“Your guess is as good as mine, we don't know and of course there's the urban rumours that you hear about the stuff that gets dumped out there,” said Colley-Urquart.
“The notice of motion will be framed around, what from a municipal by-law perspective, can we do, should we do, and what are the questions we need answers to.”
Chief Big Plume apologized for any inconvenience, adding that similar fires have happened in several jurisdictions across Canada.
"It is also my sincere hope that this successfully fought and contained event does not become political fodder that could jeopardize the improved relationship between Tsuu T'ina and the City of Calgary."
The Tsuu T'ina said earlier this week that most of what was burning was wood or wood products from construction sites.
A volunteer firefighter who was on scene says the First Nation did a good job battling the fire. Rob Evans, the deputy fire chief for the Redwood Meadows fire hall was one of the first to arrive on the scene.
“With the smoke ... it was very light brown, almost white smoke. It was natural materials, wood, construction rubble,” he said.
He said nothing he saw led him to believe hazardous materials were burning.
“To me it’s no different than a campfire really. Certainly as it spreads out, people who aren't used to, it would irritate their throats and eyes,” he said.
View from above
Mike Miller, who heads the fire suppression firm Safety Boss, went up with CBC News in a helicopter to survey the situation.
He said such fires are common.
"They aren't as rare as you might think. There's been several, numerous landfill fires in Canada before and of course they've ranged from small to huge. There's probably one going on in the U.S. or Canada all the time,” he said.
"Well, it's just the problem of the smoke really. It's not going to spread and go anywhere and of course its weather dependant in terms of wind blowing it into Calgary.”
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