Landfill fires release volatile organic compounds which are carcinogenic when inhaled
Does anyone know how many fires have occurred at waste and recycling facilities so far this year? When we first launched our Fire Rover product, we searched everywhere for this information. We have had conversations with executives, operations leaders, safety teams and institutional investors and, although we gained invaluable market information, no one seemed to have access to the data we sought. If you’re reading this article and you know the answer, please share; but in lieu of a source, we attempted to figure out a way to compile the information on our own. Initially, we looked to our friends across the pond for guidance. In the United Kindom, the Chief Fire Officer’s Association (CFOA)* reported 250 fires annually in 2015 at waste and recycling companies. The equivalent number in the US would be well over 1 500 fires annually based on an extrapolation of population alone.
Reported fires For the six months from Feb 2016 until July 2016, US and Canadian waste and recycling facilities have experienced 150 reported fires.
This data was compiled from news articles we found by searching for the keywords fire + “transfer station”; “MRF”; “shredder”; and “recycling.” These fires ranged from small incidents to complete burnouts and occurred in all types of recycling operations including those for metals, rubber, pulp, paper, construction and demolition, plastics, waste, wood, food, hazard materials, chemicals, fuels and more. Keep in mind that this data only contains “reported” fires shown through Google search. We can assume based on our experience that the number of “non-reported” fires that occur on a daily basis in recycling operations across the US is significant. This snippet is from one of the numerous articles we came across during our research and highlights the non-reporting fire issue:
From what neighbours in the area say, these fires happen almost daily and have for years. I saw the media and I thought, that’s a surprise because this happens all the time. And I thought, ‘Why now this serious interest?’**
But the fires themselves, believe it or not, are not those quoted in news sources’ main concern. When citizens aren’t told that their neighbouring plant has a fire, or whether it is harmful to their health, that is what upsets them most.
Learn more Those interested in learning more about the data Fire Rover compiled can visit
www.firerover.com. *While CFOA’s figures show the overall trend of waste fires over the last 10 years has remained consistent at around 250 incidents per year, it highlights the fact that more recently “there have seen a number of large-scale protracted incidents that have caused significant disruption to the fire service and local community. The cost to fire and rescue services is estimated to be in the region of £16 million a year.” **
http://www.kens5.com/news/local/southside-residents-deal-with-another-fire-at-cmc-recycling/268121326 
