WESTAR LANDFILL FIRE
Five years later
Five years after a fire that took six weeks to extinguish at Westar Landfill, there is a timeline for waste to be returned to the pit by 2021, says the environmentals appeal board.
An appeal by the owners of Westar was dealt with in mediation, and therefore details available to the public are limited, said Gilbert VanNes, general counsel and settlement officer environmental appeals board.
According to Amendment No. 4, the intent is for all removed wastes to be fully placed within the landfill pit by Nov. 30, 2021, said VanNes. The same amendment requires an annual report be filed by Dec. 31, 2018 and to identify the progress made in cleanup of the site.
The fire began on Nov. 18, 2013 in the landfill located near the junction of highways 41 and 41 A, about eight kilometres east of Medicine Hat. At the time it was estimated that the fire covered an area of 500 square feet and was burning about 80 feet deep.
Cypress County declared a state of emergency on Nov. 21, 2013. A total of 21 people were under a mandatory evacuation order and residents of 16 homes were under a voluntary evacuation order.
By Nov. 23 a company experienced in fighting fires like this one — Hellfire Suppression Services from Rocky Mountain House — was brought in. They reported pouring in 6,000 gallons of water every minute, according to News stories at the time.It was not until Dec. 30, 2013 that the fire was considered officially extinguished.
No charges were laid against Westar after the fire. The environmental protection order was the tool applied by the compliance assurance team, said a spokesperson for Alberta environment.
In early January 2014 the CAO for Cypress County estimated the cost of extinguishing the fire to be about $2 million.
On June 19, 2018, Cypress County council passed a motion directing the county’s administration to “take the recommended next step as discussed in the closed session,” said LesleyAnn Collins from the CAO’s office on Thursday. Because the discussion was in a closed session, additional details are not available publically.
“It’s a matter on the public record that Cypress County has made a claim and participated in discovery,” said Collins.
The News left a telephone message and sent an email to the owners of Westar Landfill on Wednesday. There was no response.