Toxic dump fire appears to be out

A potentially toxic months-long rubbish fire appears to be out, though Fire and Emergency can’t rule out whether a deepseated fire remains.

A blaze at Puke Coal landfill, in Pukemiro, west of Huntly, started on August 16 sending smoke and a foul smell over residents for months.

When the odour was at its height residents complained of nausea, headaches and interrupted sleep.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women were told to leave the area for potential health effects.

Recent heat detecting drone shots found no signs of fire near the surface of the landfill, but a deep-seated fire could not be ruled out, a Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) spokesperson said.

‘‘The inspection found no visual or thermal indications of fire at the site.

‘‘The possibility of more deep-seated fire cannot be ruled out.

‘‘However, there are no current indications that there is any fire at or near the surface.’’

Fire and Emergency ‘‘was continuing to monitor the situation’’, the spokesperson said.

‘‘If the available information changes in a way that indicates there is an emergency or a hazardous substances emergency, Fire and Emergency will respond appropriately.’’

Waikato Regional Council’s senior emergency management officer Derek Hartley recently told testing for dioxin levels would still go ahead, despite signs the fire is out.

Waikato DHB health officials recently advised of a possible risk of increased levels of dioxins emitted from the fire, which could affect breastfeeding babies.

Dump owner John Campbell had previously denied agencies access to the site to check the status of the fire.

But in a recent u-turn, Campbell allowed Fire and Emergency onsite to take thermal imaging drone shots of the landfill.

Waikato Regional Council compliance manager Patrick Lynch is leading an investigation into potential breaches of the RMA by Campbell.

He would not rule in or out whether there would be any prosecution from the fire, or other RMA breaches.

‘‘If there’s someone to be held accountable we want that more than anyone,’’ Lynch said.