Firefighters respond to landfill fire

 

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- It took nearly five hours to put out a fire at Prairie View Landfill, sending black clouds of smoke billowing throughout southern St. Joseph County. Strong winds were not making the situation any easier for firefighters.

The Madison Township Volunteer Fire Department was the first to respond, getting the call shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday, and arriving to a working fire on the side of the Prairie View Landfill.

The wind and flames demanded further manpower and ultimately, thirteen additional agencies responded to the scene, including the Bremen Fire Department and St. Joseph County Police.

The heavy equipment operators helped move dirt to extinguish the fire.

The fire was designated "under control" around 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

The cause of the fire is still unknown, but according to St. Joseph County, Waste Management will be submitting a full report to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.