The Iowa City Landfill on the southwest side of the city caught fire yesterday. It has broken through the containment lines of the landfill and is expected to continue burning for days. Even the lining of the landfill is on fire.
According to the Des Moines Register website, the landfill fire was reported on Saturday evening at a little after 6:30 p.m. Something in the garbage that was dumped Saturday caught fire, and the fire began there.
Containment lines were established for the landfill and began burning up as well late Saturday and early Sunday to keep the fire from spreading to a more dangerous level. The containment line was created, but it was not enough to keep the fire in.
The fire spread through the containment line, which was made of old, shredded tires. A thick black smoke has been produced as the fire burns along the containment lines. The winds have shifted and the smoke is going over the more populated areas of Iowa City, causing complaints from the residents.
The Health Department has become concerned about the smoke shift and has warned residents about exposure, especially if they have particularly sensitive breathing conditions.
Air quality monitoring will begin as the fire is expected to last for a few days and nothing can be done to stop it. The fire is burning still to the liner of the landfill over a three-acre area, which is a major concern for the health department, the city and Iowa City residents as well.
According to the Des Moines Register website, the landfill fire was reported on Saturday evening at a little after 6:30 p.m. Something in the garbage that was dumped Saturday caught fire, and the fire began there.
Containment lines were established for the landfill and began burning up as well late Saturday and early Sunday to keep the fire from spreading to a more dangerous level. The containment line was created, but it was not enough to keep the fire in.
The fire spread through the containment line, which was made of old, shredded tires. A thick black smoke has been produced as the fire burns along the containment lines. The winds have shifted and the smoke is going over the more populated areas of Iowa City, causing complaints from the residents.
The Health Department has become concerned about the smoke shift and has warned residents about exposure, especially if they have particularly sensitive breathing conditions.
Air quality monitoring will begin as the fire is expected to last for a few days and nothing can be done to stop it. The fire is burning still to the liner of the landfill over a three-acre area, which is a major concern for the health department, the city and Iowa City residents as well.
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