Smoldering trash at dump
Firefighters and contractors from around Lake County work to control a fire at the Lake County Landfill in Polson. Polson Fire Chief John Fairchild believes the fire was by caused spontaneous combustion and is working to move debris from the source and put out the smoldering embers. Photo by Mike Cast
Mike Cast / Leader Staff
POLSON - A fire at the Lake County Landfill on North Reservoir Rd. began around 6 p.m. Monday night and continued into Tuesday. According to Polson Fire Chief John Fairchild, the most likely cause was spontaneous combustion.
The combustion was probably caused deep under an old garbage pile when wood met friction and was heated by water at just the right time, Fairchild said. The underground fire may have been able to surface when it reached air holes, encountered oxygen and flaring up. The fire department does not blame human error at this time.
"It happens in dumps all over. It's no different than a haystack fire," Fairchild said.
Fairchild estimates that the fire may have been smoldering below the earth for six to eight months or longer before it was detected. His job now will be to find the source and move debris away from it. He thought the fire might still burn a couple of days or more before it is completely contained, although he said there was no way to say for sure.
Program manager of the landfill, Mark E. Nelson agrees with Fairchild on the cause. He says that he is complying with state regulations in order to keep the situation under control. He also said that it's new to Polson, but something that can happen at a landfill.
"In 30 years, this is the first one that happened here," Nelson said.
Volunteer fire departments and a private contractor are working around the clock to contain the fire.}