The Tie Lake Transfer Station in Jaffray was briefly closed on Saturday (Jan. 15) after a series of fires burnt through some waste piles.
RDEK fire services arrived on scene on Saturday to discover three separate fires at the station.
“When we arrived, the tire pile was on fire and it was later discovered that both waste bins were burning as well,” said Elk Valley & South Country Rural Fire and Rescue Service Fire Chief Michael Hockley.
Ten firefighters from the Jaffray, Baynes Lake and Elko Fire Departments responded to the call with six pieces of apparatus, including two engines.
According to an RDEK release about the fire, ‘several’ vehicles entered the transfer station during the emergency closure and attempted to dispose of their garbage.
“We would like to remind the public to obey signage and stay away from areas where emergency responders are working,” said Hockley.
According to the RDEK, while the cause of the fire in the waste bins has not yet been determined, the fires are considered to be human-caused.
The site was fully re-opened as of Saturday afternoon.
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scott.tibballs@thefreepress.ca
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