Landfill Fire Erupts in Tsalapitsa, Prompting Swift Response

Emergency Services Battle Blaze Covering 400 Square Meters

A significant fire broke out at the Tsalapitsa waste landfill yesterday evening, with flames engulfing an area approximately 400 square meters. The blaze was reported around 5:30 PM, triggering an immediate mobilization of municipal and regional fire services.

Firefighters Tackle Inferno

Four fire trucks were dispatched to the scene, quickly working to bring the fire under control. The swift response was coordinated with the Regional Directorate of Fire Safety and Population Protection, under the command of Senior Commissioner Vasil Dimov.

Heavy Machinery Deployed

At the request of Plovdiv Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov, heavy equipment was brought in to aid in suppressing the fire by clearing the affected terrain. Additionally, water tankers from the municipal enterprise “Purity” were present, as confirmed by Deputy Mayor for Ecology Ivan Stoyanov, who attended the site.

Air Quality Monitored

Mobile monitoring stations from the Regional Directorate of Fire Safety and Population Protection conducted air quality measurements. Initial reports indicate no significant increases in particulate matter in the atmosphere following the incident.

Landfill fires can release a range of harmful pollutants into the air, including particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds. For instance, a 2019 study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that air pollution from landfill fires can impact respiratory health in nearby communities (U.S. EPA, 2019).