SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Yellowknife landfill was back in business Monday morning after a fire broke out near the facility's baling storage area Sunday afternoon.

Water Bombers and emergency crews battle a fire at the Yellowknife landfill Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Fire crews battled the fire until 5 a.m. Monday morning. - Kevin Allerston/NNSL photo

The fire department responded with 24 personnel, two pumper trucks, two water tankers, a rescue truck, an ambulance and two administration vehicles.

The Yellowknife fire department is still investigating the cause of the fire, which was reported at 4:35 p.m. Sunday and lasted until 5:00 a.m Monday when fire crews finally had it out.

Deputy fire chief Gerda Groothuizen stated in an e-mail the fire was never out of control and is still smoldering, but has been smothered with sand, dirt and gravel to ensure it does not re-ignite.

Groothuizen stated she believes the fire likely started spontaneously due to high temperatures.

"The chemical chain reaction will cause garbage to start burning spontaneously, depending on what it contains," stated Groothuizen.

"It's assumed it was natural causes," said Mayor Gord Van Tighem on Monday.

"If you get any amount of heat and direct sunlight and it shines off a piece of glass it can ignite. The main thing is that it was found very quickly."

The fire was approximately 100 metres by 150 metres across when the fire department arrived at 4:30 p.m. Fire crews were aided by two Department of Environment and Natural Resources water bombers and a helicopter from Trinity Helicopters, which dumped water on the fire. A water truck was also on hand from Bromley and Son Ltd. to help ensure there was enough water for the fire department's pumper trucks.

"A huge thank you to Bromley & Sons for their water support with their water tanker. It helped maintain the water supply for the hose lines," stated Groothuizen.

Once the ground was cool enough, facility personnel smothered the affected area with sand, soil and gravel.

Van Tighem said the the fire will not affect rules and regulations around using the dump and the salvaging area, but he did have concerns about boaters on Back Bay getting in the way of water bombers trying to scoop water to fight the fire.

"The only thing is that if there are water bombers operating in Back Bay people with canoes should stay near the shore line," said Van Tighem.

"It is an emergency response and it should be given some respect to the seriousness of the situation those guys are working in."

There were no reports of injuries or damage to structures.

Sunday's blaze was the first major fire at the dump since Sept. 4 2009. City officials blamed that fire on a careless smoker, and it took six months for the city to re-open its salvage area to the public.

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