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Kamloops  

Fire at Mission Flats landfill now only emitting white smoke

Landfill fire losing vigour

UPDATE 5:00 p.m.

Kamloops Fire Rescue continues to drive three trucks back and forth to keep the fire at Mission Flats landfill at bay.

Landfill workers on scene have been redirecting traffic since after 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning.

KFR and the landfill are expected to observe the scene overnight.


UPDATE 2:50 p.m.

Kamloops Fire Rescue is preparing to have crews at the Mission Flats landfill overnight as firefighters continue to battle a large blaze in a metal pile.

The fire department said on Twitter the current on-scene crew will be changed out “soon” and it will “continue to be up to residents to take steps to limit their exposure to residual smoke.”

“Unfortunately smoke will persist for some time yet,” the fire department said. “Crews have some areas cooled enough for heavy machinery to begin moving some debris.”

There is, however, much less smoke being emitted by the fire compared to earlier in the day.

Castanet will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.


UPDATE: 12:35 p.m.

The smell of the toxic smoke continues to spread across the North Shore and Downtown areas of Kamloops.

Kamloops Fire Rescue platoon captain Troy Grant spoke with Castanet Kamloops, explaining that crews have knocked the fire down a little bit at this time.

"We do have a large pile of metal that's still burning, it's been knocked down somewhat," Grant said.

He's not currently on scene, so he can't comment to what degree it has been knocked down, but the reporting officer said it is smaller than it was earlier Saturday morning.

"By no means is it under control yet," Grant said. "They are trying to get it to a spot where it's cool enough to tear the pile apart a little bit using machinery ... But the captain on location thinks we're going to be there for sometime yet."

At this time, there is one engine on scene, along with three water tenders to bring water from the fire hydrant at the start of Mission Flats to the fire scene.


UPDATE: 11:10 a.m.

Toxic, black smoke continues to pour from the large fire at Kamloops' Mission Flats Landfill and fire crews are warning those in the area to stay indoors and avoid breathing in the smoke.

"Please avoid the area, this smoke is potentially very toxic," Kamloops Fire Rescue posted to Twitter.

"It is the metal recycling area involved – a lot of appliances (including refrigerators) burning. KFR is requesting anyone downwind being affected by the smoke to shelter in place in their homes."

It's still unclear how the fire started. Smoke from the fire appears to be somewhat reduced as of 11:15 a.m., and firefighters remain on scene fighting the fire.


UPDATE: 10 a.m.

The fire burning at the Kamloops dump continues to burn Saturday morning, as fire crews hit the blaze with water.

There's no fire hydrant near the pile of burning metal, so three Kamloops Fire Rescue trucks are taking turns filling up their tanks near the start of Mission Flats and returning to hit the fire.

It's unclear at this time what sparked the fire.


UPDATE: 9:09 a.m.

A fire Saturday at the Mission Flats landfill sent a tower of black smoke billowing over parts of Kamloops.

Emergency crews were called to the dump just before 9 a.m. for a fire in a metal pile, according to the city.

“The landfill is currently closed and residents are asked to avoid the area,” the City of Kamloops said in a tweet.

“More details will be released as they become available.”

Castanet Kamloops has a reporter at the scene. This post will be updated when more information is known.

Do you have photos or video of the fire? Send them to [email protected].


ORIGINAL: 8:59 a.m.

A tower of black smoke is rising from the Mission Flats area on Saturday morning.

Kamloops residents are taking to social media sharing their photos of the smoke.

Calls from Castanet to Kamloops Fire Rescue have not yet been returned and a reporter is en route to the scene. This post will be updated when more information is known.

If you have photos or video you'd like to share, email it to [email protected].



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