Updated
A fire that started in the wood waste piles at Wasa Transfer Station on Oct. 21 is believed to be caused by arson.
Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) reported that a fire had started in two separate wood piles and ignited a third at the Transfer Station on Oct. 21.
RDEK Solid Waste Superintendent Jim Penson noted that this was the third fire at the Transfer Station in the past few weeks and that the incidents were likely to be caused by an arsonist.
“The wood waste area has separate piles in one larger open area and last night two of those wood waste piles were intentionally lit,” said Penson. “There was a good guard around the wood waste pile, so while highly visible, the fire was contained to that area and did not spread further on site.”
RDEK stated that staff were on site working to quell the blaze and the fire had been successfully contained by 11 p.m. on Oct. 21. B.C Wildlfire Service and a contractor with a water truck and excavator arrived at the scene of the fire shortly after 8 p.m., and the crew remained on site all night to monitor the situation.
RDEK is currently working with the contractor to burn any untouched areas of wood waste, as it had already planned to do an annual burn to clear the piles anyway.
“As part of our regular operations, we burn the wood waste pile annually. We had already applied for a burn registration number and were waiting on a good venting index and proper weather conditions to complete the planned ignition," Penson explained. "As a result of this fire and the one two weeks ago, we made the decision to burn the rest of the pile today as conditions are favourable. Our contractor will remain on site to ensure this piece of the work is done safely and in a controlled manner.”
RDEK reported that the wood waste area of the Transfer Station will be closed Oct. 22, but access to the Transtor bins for disposal, and household garbage and recycling will remain open.
