5703_FIRE_20221004

Waste Management
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY
FIRE OCCURRENCE NOTIFICATION
NCDEQ Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section
Notify the Section verbally within 24 hours and submit written notification within 15 days of the occurrence.
(If additional space is needed, use back of this form)
NAME OF FACILITY: Macon County Landfill PERMIT # 57-03
DATE AND TIME OF FIRE: October 4, 2022 @ 7:30 pm
HOW WAS THE FIRE REPORTED AND BY WHOM:
A caller into 911 dispatch reported hearing a "boom" and seeing smoke. I was contacted at approximately 8:00 pm by the EMS Director. Fire Department was
already on scene when I arrived.
LIST ACTIONS TAKEN:
Fire Department(s) largely controlled the fire, but could not fully extinguish due to location. A landfill excavator was used to drag the tractor and trailer out of the
Recovery Building so that the fire department could access the burning waste in the trailer. A 40-yard container of cardboard also caught on fire. The container was
dumped on the tipping floor of the recovery building so that the cardboard could be spread and extinguished.
WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE:
Unknown. The "hot spot" appeared to be at the rear of the tractor/front of the trailer. It is unknown which started the fire. The two most likely candidates are a
battery exploding on the tractor, or something in the waste; likely a rechargeable battery. Inspection of the area the next day lead to no additional findings of cause.
DESCRIBE AREA, TYPE, AND AMOUNT OF WASTE INVOLVED:
Rear of Recovery Building, behind the push wall. Fire destroyed the tractor and walking -floor trailer. Rear of the building experienced warping due to the heat.
Estimate that 10 to 12 tons of waste were in the trailer.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO PREVENT THIS FIRE:
As the fire occurred after operating hours, and with no indication of smoke or fire at closing, little could have been done to prevent the fire. I would note, however,
that the Solid Waste Department is working on a PSA to promote and encourage recycling of rechargeable batteries; a potential cause of the fire.
DESCRIBE PLAN OF ACTIONS TO PREVENT FUTURE INCIDENTS:
As mentioned; we are working on a PSA to increase our efforts to keep rechargeable (lithium ion) batteries out of the waste stream. We actively screen all wastes
that come into the building, and recover any rechargeable batteries we find for recycling. As it is impossible to catch everything; promoting proper disposal of these
wastes is deemed the best course of action.
NAME:Michael C Stahl TITLE: Solid Waste Director DATE: 11/l/2022
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THIS SECTION TO BE COMPLETED BY SOLID WASTE SECTION REGIONAL STAFF
DATE RECEIVED l l/l/2022
List any factors not listed that might have contributed to the fire or that might prevent occurrence of future fires:
FOLLOW-UP REQUIRED:
X❑ NO ❑ PHONE CALL ❑ SUBMITTAL ❑ MEETING ❑ RETURN VISIT BY: (DATE)
ACTIONS TAKEN OR REQUIRED:
Revised 611512016