Cause of Navotas landfill fire still under probe — BFP

Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire that hit the Navotas Sanitary Landfill on Friday evening.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), however, said a witness claimed the blaze started in the middle portion of the landfill.

“Ang dahilan ng sunog ay under investigation pa. Pero ayon sa eyewitness natin, ang sunog ay nagsimula sa gawing gitnang bahagi. Ibig sabihin talagang hindi accessible sa anumang tao dahil hindi naman siya pwedeng basta-bastang daanan," said BFP spokesperson Fire Supt. Anthony Arroyo on “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” on Monday.

(The cause of the fire is still under investigation. But according to our eyewitness, the fire started in the middle portion. This means it is not accessible to just anyone because you cannot simply pass through the area.)

"Ang pwede lang makadaan doon ay ‘yung mga heavy equipment gaya ng mga bulldozer,” he added.

(Only heavy equipment, such as bulldozers, can access it.)

The landfill has been non-operational since August last year after its franchise expired. However, the local government of Navotas said it does not own the facility.

The fire, which caused a haze over Metro Manila and nearby areas, was declared under control as of Sunday.

“Hindi natin pwedeng i-declare na fire out dahil ongoing pa rin ang total suppression or mopping-up operation natin. At ang involved kasi natin dito ay rubbish fire, kaya nag-establish ng incident command post,” Arroyo said.

(We cannot declare a fire out because our total suppression or mopping-up operations are still ongoing. Since this is a rubbish fire, an incident command post has been established.)

He noted that more than 50 BFP personnel were deployed, along with support from the Philippine Air Force and the local government.

“Bukas o sa susunod na araw, through heavy equipment, tatakpan natin ito… tatakpan ng soil or sand pagkatapos ng pagkalkal at misting,” he said.

(Tomorrow or the next day, using heavy equipment, we will cover it… it will be covered with soil or sand after raking and misting.)

The BFP also said no one was injured in the incident, as the landfill is isolated from the public.

Meanwhile, Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco said the fire could have been prevented if the operator had completed its required closure program.

The company was directed to undergo proper closure procedures, but the process remained unfinished before it exited the site.—MCG, GMA News