Smouldering compost fire at Brady Road landfill blowing smoke towards Winnipeg

A smouldering fire that began Tuesday at the Brady Road landfill is still burning nearly a full day later and is blowing smoke towards Winnipeg.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service says it was called around 5:15 p.m. to the Brady Road Resource Management Facility because of the fire involving three large compost piles – each more than 4,000 cubic metres.

The WFPS says the fire generated a large volume of smoke blowing towards the city, and fire crews got involved as a result. They say those types of fires, which can be smothered with soil, are usually handled by landfill employees.

WFPS crews, wildland fire units, fire engines and a water tanker were on the scene for seven hours.

“Despite all efforts by firefighters, applying water to the piles proved to be ineffective,” the WFPS said in a news release. “The decision was made to leave the scene to employees at the facility and return the fire crews to their stations so they would be available for critical emergencies.”

Landfill employees are working to smother the smouldering fire. Winnipeg Fire says that type of blaze, involving deep piles of organic materials, can burn for a long time.

“Smoke will continue to be an issue until the fires are fully extinguished,” the WFPS.

A spokesperson for the City says staff at Brady landfill are trained in these types of situations. The City also says that it’s not very common for WFPS to put out fires at the landfill, stating that it might happen only once a year on average. Some residents who live near the landfill says they’re not too worried about the smoke.

“We haven’t noticed anything. Mainly from the smoke from the wildfires out west but nothing from the landfill or fire here close by,” said a nearby resident.

Crews say they are prepared to return to the landfill if the fire spreads or worsens.

The cause of the fire is unknown.