Pugwash Dump Fire Re-kindled by Morning Wind

A stubborn fire at the Pugwash dump flared up again today. The Pugwash Fire Department was first called to the transfer station, on Irishtown Road, on Wednesday evening, but firefighters were called to fight round two.

Numerous loads of water were taken from the harbour near Dinghy Beach to pour over the mounds of refuse, mostly discarded building materials.

This morning, about 10 o’clock, one of the PFD members decided to take a look at the scene and found one pile was smouldering again, producing a growing cloud of smoke, as shown in the photo.

He put out the call for firefighters to return to the dump. By the time they arrived, a brisk wind had re-ignited three hot spots.

Once again they set-up at the harbour to draw water, and several tanker loads were shuttled to the transfer station in round two of the battle.

Firefighters received a little help from above as forecast showers began to fall. They were on scene for a few hours.

Landfill or dump fires are notorious for their stubbornness, as fire often continues deep within the piles of debris. This morning’s wind provided the necessary oxygen to rekindle the fire.

Had the firefighter not checked this morning the situation could have been much, much worse. Given the location of the dump, at the dead end of a little travelled road, it was not likely that the fire would have been noticed in time to contain it as the PFD did this morning.