Moody landfill fire
The Moody landfill fire is an uncontrolled fire burning through an underground multi-layer debris pile covering 23 to 50 acres in a "green waste" landfill operated by Environmental Landfill Inc. on Annie Lee Road, partly in the city of Moody and partly on unincorporated land in northwestern St Clair County.
Under its permit, the landfill accepts only plant matter and storm debris, and therefore its regular operations are not regulated by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). In 2018, following a complaint, ADEM conducted an inspection of the landfill and found a potential of fire hazards, along with evidence of automotive, medical, industrial and hazardous wastes not allowed by its permit. It has been claimed that non-authorized waste was removed from the site before the fire broke out.
The fire was reported on the morning of Friday November 25, 2022. The Moody Fire Department initially responded to the scene, but is not engaged in attempting to extinguish it. The Alabama Forestry Commission and ADEM have visited the scene and provided technical advice, but it has fallen to the St Clair County Commission managing the public response.
Officials have said that it is not feasible to attempt to extinguish it and that their activities would focus on preventing it from spreading. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management has recommended that nearby residents limit outdoor activities, seal openings to their homes, and install high-quality filters in their HVAC units; and that particularly sensitive residents may benefit from relocating. GASP has placed air monitors at the edges of the landfill to document hazards.
References
- Pillion, Dennis (December 23, 2022) "Landfill fire near Birmingham still burning 28 days later. Now what?" AL.com
- Archibald, John (December 28, 2022) "ADEM: Alabama Doesn’t Even Matter" editorial. AL.com
- Koplowitz, Howard (December 29, 2022) "Possible punishment for Moody landfill fire won’t be given until underground blaze put out: State." AL.com