According to officials at approximately 5:30 Wednesday evening the Manila Fire Chief contacted Sweetwater County Fire Warden Mike Bournazian and requested assistance in dealing with a landfill fire in Manila Utah.
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The Sweetwater County Fire Department responded along with engine support from the Green River Fire Department, as well as the Granger Volunteer Fire Department, with two engines in a water tender and approximately 200 gallons of firefighting foam.They were assisted by heavy equipment and additional resources from the Manila area.
According to reports smoke was visible from quite a distance out on the reservoir. Officials anticipated that that the fire would burn well through the night and into the nest day with no expected control time. The fire has been extinguished on the other parameters of the landfill and is now confined to the primary pile site of about a quarter acre in size.
As of 1:30 this morning county officials were clearing the fire and headed home. The fire will continue to be managed and monitored by the Manila Fire Department for the remainder of installation. The cause of the fire at this time is unknown an undetermined. There were no accidents or injuries.
Due to the remote location of the landfill south of the town of Manila water tenders and fire engines both had to be utilized to shuttle water, which was then mixed with foam and then applied to the fire. In the end firefighters used over 15,000 gallons of water and 150 gallons of firefighting foam.
The fire was contained to an area of about one half acre of landfill waste with the depth of about 15 to 20 feet. The fire can be expected to burn and smolder for many days and weeks to come.
Officials stated that this fire would most certainly have been worse, with the high temperatures and strong winds in the area, had it not been for the quick actions of the landfill operator who happened to be off-site at the time of the start of the fire. The landfill operator quickly responded and built control lines around the landfill with his dozer, and with the support of the Manila Volunteer Fire Department.
Officials also noted that they had only just finalized a mutual aid agreement between Sweetwater County Fire Department and the Manila Fire Department last Wednesday.
Sweetwater County Fire Warden Mike Bournazian had been working on a written agreement between the two departments for the last 18 months. “It is quite an undertaking when dealing with an out of state entity,” according to Bournazian. Both entities have to agree upon terms and verbiage and the state Attorney General’s office also had to be involved. “I’m very happy that were able to accomplish that agreement to provide each fire department assets if, and when, available. This is a great example of the spirit of the fire service in our efforts to support each other in the times of need.”
