CALGARY — A fire at a Calgary landfill has been challenging local first responders and has prompted a warning about air quality.
The Calgary Fire Department issued a news release saying it received multiple calls about a plume of smoke near the southeast community of Quarry Park on Friday night.
The smoke was coming from a rubble pile containing construction waste and dry fill, and the fire department says that when they arrived, crews from the facility were on top of the pile trying to put out the flames with heavy equipment.
The department says a bulldozer broke down and was quickly overcome by flames, but the operator was able to get away safely.
The fire kept growing, and the fire department says the nearest hydrant was nearly a kilometre away.
Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a special air quality statement for Calgary on Saturday morning due to smoke from the fire.
The fire department says people should stay away from the area, adding the cause is under investigation.