By Beth Hahn
Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico)
Copyright 2006 Albuquerque Journal
State and local officials are investigating the cause of a fire at the Torrance County/Bernalillo County regional landfill east of Moriarty.
The fire was most likely caused by illegally dumped chemicals, Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority manager Joseph Ellis told county and local officials during an emergency meeting Friday.
Ellis said the fire was caused by “spontaneous combustion” of a substance that was dumped during the afternoon of June 21.
Landfill staff began smothering the flames with heavy equipment on June 21. Ellis said a resident called Torrance County dispatchers about 1 a.m. on June 22 to report that flames were again visible in the landfill.
Firefighters and heavy equipment battled the fire and spent most of June 22 putting out hot spots, Ellis said. Bernalillo County firefighters arrived on the scene later that day and a Torrance County resident brought 12,000 gallons of water to help, he said.
By Friday, firefighters and landfill personnel had smothered most of the fire with dirt and were concentrating on keeping the dirt wet and pressed down on the fire, said Ellis.
That afternoon, the Torrance County Commission and the Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority board met in the Moriarty Civic Center to declare a state of emergency to notify state officials about the fire and to request funding and equipment.
Waste Management officials attended the meeting. The company offered bulldozers and scrapers to help with the fire control.
Because crews had to smother the blaze with dirt, Ellis said officials are unsure of the size of the fire. However, a photo passed around during the meeting showed a scorched area of about 10 feet by 10 feet that Ellis said crews were trying to keep covered with dirt. During the emergency meeting, Harry Mikal, an inspector with the state Environment Department, said he knows where the illegally dumped chemicals came from but is not sure what they are or what caused the blaze. Mikal said the chemicals came from a closed business on Old Route 66 west of Moriarty, and that the two men who loaded the container denied any knowledge of the illegal
chemicals. The state, said Mikal, could pursue court charges against the former business or the two men who allegedly dumped the chemicals.
Ellis said the fire caused “significant” disruption of refuse collection in municipalities and at Torrance County convenience stations.
The fire forced the closure of the regional landfill and municipal garbage was diverted to Albuquerque and Rio Rancho until the landfill is reopened, said Ellis. Marlene Feuer, a Waste Management representative, said most garbage in municipalities will be picked up on time, but some customers may have to wait one or two days past scheduled pick-up times.
Feuer said it is best for municipal residents to leave their trash in front of their homes just like a regular pickup day.
“We may be a day or two late, but we will get (the trash),” she said.
County convenience stations are only accepting kitchen-type trash that will rot or stink in a few days, Ellis said. Other refuse such as construction scraps, appliances and furniture will have to wait for dumping at the convenience stations until the regional landfill is open again.
As of Tuesday, Ellis said the landfill fire appeared to be out, because officials have not seen evidence of smoldering since the weekend.
“It’s looking very good,” he said. “We’ve been smothering it with dirt and the rains have really helped.”
Ellis said he expects county convenience stations to be fully operational by Saturday, but said the regional landfill cannot reopen until state Environment Department officials inspect it. For questions about municipal garbage pick-up, call your local city hall. For questions about county convenience stations, call the Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority at 384-4270.