Fire hits landfill in Rizal, smoke reaches QC

The smoke from the fire that broke out in a landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal reached Quezon City on Monday.

In Darlene Cay’s report on “24 Oras,” despite the rain earlier today, the fire in Barangay San Isidro remains under control and has yet to be extinguished.

Due to the smoke, 87 individuals or 24 families went to an evacuation center. 

The blaze started at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Rodriguez, Rizal said the fire spread quickly and was difficult to extinguish due to the volume of trash.

“Yung nature po kasi nito, ang apoy po karaniwan dahil sa landfill, nanggagaling po ito sa ilalim. Kaya po ang ginagawa po natin dito na iisang means ng pag-apula at humuhukay po tayo ng lupa gamit ang mga heavy equipment tulad ng backhoe at bulldozer at itinatabon po natin sa mga area na mayroong mga apoy o mga pag-usok," Fire Senior Inspector Rene Boy Bacay of BFP Rodriguez Rizal said.

(Fire in the landfill usually came from the bottom. To extinguish it, we dug some dirt using heavy equipment like a backhoe and bulldozer and covered the areas where there was fire or smoke.)

According to the investigation, the blaze was difficult to extinguish due to methane, a gas produced from decaying waste, possibly triggered by the extreme hot weather.

“Malaking factor na sa panahon ngayon dumaranas tayo ng matinding init kaya nakakapekto po talaga ito na nagkaroon tayo ng mga rubbish fires,” Bacay said.

“Gayunpaman, hindi naman natin sinasara na doon lang ang maging cause kaya patuloy pa rin na iniimbestigahan ng BFP Rodriguez ang origin ng sunog,” he added.

(The hot weather can be a big factor in rubbish fires, but we’re not ruling out that it is the only cause. Investigation is still ongoing.)

The evacuees will return to their respective homes once authorities rule that it is safe.

The Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office advised residents in the city to wear a face mask when going outdoors, citing unhealthy to very unhealthy air quality in some areas. 

The Quezon City Emergency Operations Center will issue another advisory on Tuesday, 8 a.m.

GMA Integrated News has sought comments from the management of the landfill.

Meanwhile, the Rodriguez local government unit said it is coordinating with the Department of Environment for an air quality test.

Residents were advised to avoid going outside and wear face masks. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News