Kugaaruk landfill fire caused by improperly disposed-of fireworks
Volunteer firefighters worked in rotations for more than 60 hours to battle fire
Kugaaruk’s landfill was on fire for nearly four days after kids got hold of some improperly disposed of fireworks and set them off there last week. (Creative Commons photo)
A four-day fire broke out at Kugaaruk’s landfill over the weekend after a group of kids found a stash of unlit fireworks there and proceeded to set them off.
The fire was first reported June 27 just after 1 p.m., said Michelle Byers, the hamlet’s senior administrative officer, in an email Tuesday.
“The firefighters discovered unlit fireworks in the landfill,” Byers wrote. “The fireworks were lit by kids who were playing in the landfill, which apparently caused the fire.”
She did not confirm where the fireworks came from.
Kugaaruk volunteer firefighter Corey Qavvik was part of the team battling the fire. He said he stayed on site for more than 24 hours.
“I was pretty drained,” Qavvik said in a phone interview. One of the hardest parts, he said, was having to spend an entire day in the smell of burning garbage.
Qavvik compared the size of the fire to one in a one-storey housing unit. Teams of firefighters worked in rotation, monitoring and fighting the fire until 4 a.m. on June 30.
The fire was not out of control at any time, no buildings were damaged and there were no reported injuries, Byers said.
Kugaaruk Mayor Teddy Apsaktaun thanked the firefighters for their work.
“We are working to address anyone in the community that is disposing of unused fireworks at the landfill,” he said in an email statement on Tuesday.
“The landfill is not the right place to get rid of explosive or flammable materials.”
There is absolutely zero sorting of waste in nunavut, so this isn’t exactly surprising. Batteries, ammo, single-use plastics, dead dogs, rotten meat, all in the same bin!
Don t you hate it , when people find your ” STASH ”
This could have been avoided IF CG&S had structure programs in place on Landfill site i.e. recycle containers, used batteries, propane, recycle electronics, used tires, or used oil etc. The CG&S executives can look into a recycle programs and services with private companies in North America if Canada cannot take on this initiative!
Once you’re 60 parallel below you can be sarcasm with services right in your backyard!🦺
Yes let’s have the Territorial government manage the hamlets municipal waste. Hope this is a joke
And those fireworks would’ve remained unlit, if it weren’t for the meddling kids!
It gets dark enough for fireworks? WOW.😂
Who throws out fireworks? I don’t get how someone could pay good money for fireworks and then waste them. At least give them to someone who will enjoy them.