Kelowna

Glenmore Landfill fire Sept 2, 2012

Photo: Contributed - Brad Pattison

Photo: Contributed - Brad Pattison

Photo: Contributed - Brad Pattison

Photo: Contributed - Brad Pattison

Photo: Contributed - Brad Pattison

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The Kelowna Fire Department was called out to the Glenmore Landfill late Sunday afternoon after a fire started in a garbage pile.

The pile sent smoke billowing into the sky, creating a plume that was visible for miles.

The call came in at 5:17 p.m., and crews arrived to find a somewhat difficult situation.

Although small in size, and not threatening to spread quickly, it was also burning deep inside the pile.

"It's your typical dump fire, (although) I hate to call it that," says Platoon Captain Henry Roelofs.

"It's an unknown cause, needless to say. It could be something in a truck that is burning, gets dumped and starts spreading."

Landlfill personnel aided fire crews by using their equipment to help break up the pile.

"This gives us good exposure to it (the fire), and then we apply water to it. I think we used probably four or five thousand gallons of water on it," says Roelofs.

Some house fires can be put out with less than 50 gallons.

"These are difficult fires because they become deep-seated real quick. Moving it around is the key to it all and trying not to bury more of it by wetting it as it's being moved."

Roelofs says the fire crews were able to put it out quickly, although they remained on the scene for a few hours after to ensure there were no flare ups.

Landfill personnel are continuing to monitor the fire site today.

Nick Fane shot this short video on Sunday.