In the Czech Republic, near the capital Prague, firefighters are battling a large fire at a plastic waste dump for the second day in a row.
The fire at the plastic waste landfill in the town of Ringolec began on the evening of April 21, and efforts to extinguish the flames are still ongoing. The landfill covers an area of 200×200 meters, with a height of five meters, which has been halved due to the fire. Around 250 firefighters, along with more than a hundred pieces of equipment, are on site, and a warning has been issued for residents of nearby areas.
Due to the nature of the fire, special equipment and a large amount of water are being used. Firefighters are simultaneously extinguishing the fire and removing still undamaged plastic bags to prevent them from catching fire. Sixteen firefighters sustained minor burns and sought medical attention, but none required hospitalization.
On Tuesday morning, a fire service spokesperson expressed “cautious optimism.” However, officials expect that full extinguishment of the fire will take several days. Soon, a temperature-resistant, remote-controlled excavator will be brought in to help clear plastic around the fire more quickly and safely.
Local residents began providing food and water for the firefighters starting yesterday. The deputy mayor of the town brought around 200 hamburgers at night and sandwiches for breakfast in the morning. The local football team delivered snacks and drinks they had purchased for themselves before their match. One of the local grocery stores also brought food.
