Major fire at Nghi Yen landfill.
The Nghi Yen landfill in Hai Loc commune unexpectedly caught fire early this afternoon (July 19). Despite the mobilization of hundreds of people and numerous vehicles by authorities to quickly control the blaze and prevent it from spreading, the fire at the landfill remains uncontained.
According to initial information, the fire broke out at the Nghi Yen landfill area at around 1 PM. Immediately after discovering the fire, workers at the landfill used water and on-site firefighting equipment to extinguish the flames, but without success.
At the time of the fire, the landfill area was experiencing hot, windy weather. Meanwhile, the large amount of unsorted waste, including many flammable materials, had accumulated over several days, causing the fire to spread rapidly and making firefighting efforts difficult.
During the firefighting operation at the landfill, embers were carried by the wind over the wall separating it from the adjacent pine forest, causing a portion of the forest to catch fire.
Immediately after the fire broke out, the Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue Police Department of Nghe An province mobilized at least 5 fire trucks along with hundreds of police officers, soldiers, and local militia members to extinguish the fire. At the same time, the Nghe An Urban Environment and Construction Joint Stock Company – the unit managing and operating the Nghi Yen landfill – also deployed additional workers and machinery from neighboring areas to clear the garbage and create firebreaks to prevent the fire from spreading.
By approximately 8 PM on July 19th, authorities had brought the fire in the pine forest under control, preventing it from spreading further. However, the fire inside the landfill had not yet been completely extinguished.
According to representatives of the landfill management unit, forces are currently focusing on using excavators to rake and overturn layers of waste, combined with spraying water to deal with the smoldering fires. The method of simultaneously raking and watering is being continuously implemented to cool down and completely extinguish the fire as quickly as possible, while also preventing the risk of reignition.
The Nghi Yen solid waste treatment complex in Hai Loc commune is considered the largest landfill in the province, responsible for receiving and processing solid household waste from the former Vinh city and neighboring localities such as Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen, and the former Cua Lo town.
The solid waste landfill, covering an area of over 50 hectares with 8 landfill cells, has been operational since the beginning of 2010, with an average capacity of receiving and processing approximately 500 tons of waste per day. Due to the large amount of accumulated waste and the many layers of waste that have been buried for a long time, fires can easily develop into smoldering fires, making firefighting difficult and requiring the combined efforts of mechanical equipment and professional firefighters.
Firefighters are currently on the scene working to extinguish the blaze and ensure the safety of the landfill area and the surrounding forest.
