Pollution
Humain
Environnement
Economique

In an end waste landfill site, a fire broke out at around 5.40 pm in a cell that was being filled. Firefighters, who arrived on site at 6 pm, used significant resources including the site’s fire protection equipment, but the violent and swirling wind that was fanning the flames complicated the operation. The fire was brought under control at around 11 pm, and containment of the area affected using clay continued until midnight. Monitoring was maintained throughout the night. An ignition source in an “open-to-all” bin from the associated waste disposal facility and emptied into the cell at 5.20 pm had caused the accident. The next day, filling of the cell in question was stopped, the waste was removed to clear the geomembrane and allow it to be assessed. According to this assessment, only a small dike separating the cells was affected (deterioration of the internal and external edges) but the bottom was not affected. A specialist company repaired the geomembrane and various measures were put in place to reduce the likelihood such an accident happening again: increased monitoring, construction of a trench at the top of the bank with an agricultural drain to thoroughly moisten the waste stored, and spreading of pre-treated leachates on the surface of the cell to slow down the spread of any flame fronts, etc.