UNDERSTANDING AND CONTROLLING LANDFILL FIRES

Monitoring

Risk Management and Prevention:

In managing landfill fire risks an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure.  The best way to minimize the risk of landfill fire is through staff awareness and training, followed up with proper landfill operations.  The following 10 step process is recommended:

  Step 1.    Conduct a Fire Safety Audit

  Step 2.    Appoint and Organize Supervisory Staff

  Step 3.    Develop Emergency Procedures

  Step 4.    Prepare Schematic Diagrams and Site Plans
  Step 5.    Post Emergency Procedures and Contact Numbers

  Step 6.    Acquire and Maintain  Fire Fighting  Protective Equipment, including water

  Step 7.    Conduct Training and Fire Drills

  Step 8.    Identify Alternate Back-up Protection Measures During Shutdown of Primary Fire Protection Systems

  Step 9.    Review Fire Department Access and Response

 Step 10.   Improve Operations to Control Fire Hazards

Fire Insurance:

During a recent Landfill Fire Seminar in British Columbia, it was established that the majority of private and municipal landfill sites self-insure landfills. When a major fire does occur, the costs of proper extinguishment can force smaller operators into bankruptcy, as was the case at the Delta Shake and Shingle Landfill.  To avoid the costs of fire extinguishment being borne by the public, it was suggested during the seminar that mandatory fire insurance be introduced in British Columbia as an operating permit requirement.  We believe that coverage worth $2 million for small sites under one million tonnes of refuse in place and $5 million for sites with more than one million tonnes of refuse would be appropriate.

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