Southeast blaze causes air quality concerns
Posted Apr 30, 2012 7:27 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Municipal Emergency Plan has been activated and air quality in the Ogden area is being tested Monday morning as a fire at a metal recycling facility continues to burn.
Officials say they’re testing the air because of the materials burning which include scrap auto parts, rubber and plastics.
It turns out the fire, in the 3400 block of Ogden Road S.E., has been burning for several days.
The owner of the facility began having some sort of fire-related issue last Tuesday.
Emergency crews were called Thursday because of smoldering, and then were called again Sunday afternoon once the fire got out of control; hotspots have been reported several metres deep.
Officials say the owner is cooperating with first responders, bringing in loads of dirt to help smother the flames.
While there is a foul smell in the area of the fire, toxicity is minimal.
Alberta Environment’s mobile air monitoring lab has been called in to keep tabs on the situation.
Ogden Road is down to two lanes between Bonny Brook Road and 34th Avenue while crews continue to douse hot spots.
