Scott landfill fire prompts emergency declaration from Lafayette mayor-president

Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory issued an emergency declaration Christmas Eve to help combat a fire at a Scott landfill.

There was a "spontaneous combustion of materials" that started a fire on Dec. 3, according to the declaration. The fire has accelerated and is causing noxious fumes to emanate from the landfill, disturbing the residents who live near the Renauld Drive landfill.

Lafayette Fire Chief Robert Benoit said the department's instruments were unable to detect toxins in the fumes, but the fumes were causing a haze and the smell was causing a nuisance.

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The emergency declaration will allow LCG to take lead on putting out the fire, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Quality, Louisiana Office of the State Fire Marshal and Scott Fire Department, Benoit said.

The fire is likely the result of a 2018 fire that wasn't completely extinguished. The fire the departments are looking to fully extinguish today are about 300-400 feet deep, Benoit said.

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It will take some time to be able to extinguish the fire at the landfill, but the department hopes to do so by packing dirt on the pockets of fire that are trapped and burning, Benoit said.

The Lafayette Fire Department will send heavy equipment to the site Saturday to help and all of the departments involved will meet Monday, Benoit said.

Contact Ashley White at adwhite@theadvertiser.com or on Twitter @AshleyyDi.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Scott landfill fire prompts emergency declaration from mayor-president