Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Nov 17/99) - The Rankin Inlet Fire Department battled a nasty dump fire that refused to go out for the better part of five days.

Hamlet senior administrative officer, Robert Janes, said the fire was first noticed Saturday, Nov. 7.

Janes said there was no reason for immediate concern because the wind was blowing from the northwest, carrying smoke and fumes from the blaze away from town.

"We were hoping it would burn itself out, but I noticed it was starting to spread the following morning," he said.

"We were advised the wind was going to change to the southeast and we began to get worried the smoke would start carrying into town."

Janes called a hamlet strategy meeting Sunday night and it was decided the best course of action was for the fire department to try to extinguish the blaze.

Two fire trucks were deployed to the scene, plus a D6 CAT (bulldozer) to try and open the fire up so firefighters could reach it.

"It was pretty rotten conditions that Sunday night," said Janes. "The firefighters' suits were freezing up."

"We went until 10:30 p.m., when we had the surface fires extinguished."

Blizzard conditions kept the fire under control Monday, but the next day flames starting springing up again.

Despite evidence of green- and blue-coloured flames, Keewatin regional fire marshal, Tim Hinds, said the blaze is not being classed as a chemical fire.

"There are mixed materials at the dump, woods, plastics, household cleaners, etc.," said Hinds.

"We don't know what's in that smoke. The firefighters are careful to have their backs to the wind or breathing apparatus on if they're in the smoke."

Hinds said when the fire first broke out it was moving around the perimeter of the dump, but firefighters, working with the CAT, were able to localize the blaze.

"This was an extremely hard fire to fight. We used massive amounts of water.

"Until you can get the water to the base of the fire, way down deep in the garbage, it has minimal effect.

"It's also very dangerous for the firefighters walking around so many sharp objects in the garbage. We also had three minor explosions on the Sunday night."

Janes said it was a real team effort fighting the blaze under trying conditions.

The commitment shown by the firefighters on the Sunday night was incredible, he added.

"There were no complaints. Everybody went ahead and did their job," said Janes.

"It was very dangerous work for both the firefighters and hamlet staff.

"John Taipana did a great job driving the CAT on Sunday night and Andy Aliyak also did a great job the following Tuesday."