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K&W Landfill in Ontonagon was the scene of a large fire Thursday night. Thirty firefighters from four agencies battled the blaze. Luckily there are no injuries to report, but thick smoke suggests rubber and other toxic chemicals were likely some of the materials burning. Ontonagon County Emergency Manager Mike Kocher says crews used breathing apparatuses to protect from anything harmful. Winds cooperated as well, and mostly kept the smoke from blowing into nearby Greenland.
Kocher says a novel use of Superior Search and Rescue’s infrared drone proved to be the biggest help to personnel on scene.
Ontonagon County used the drone in the search for Cam Besonen in April, showing its versatile nature.
It took eight hours and thousands of gallons of water to bring the fire under control. Kocher says that the blaze was contained to recently arrived trash, only about 20 feet deep. Tankers pulled water from atop a bridge on the Flintsteel River. Landfill staff helped out using an excavator. The cause is not known.
