116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Report: No ill health effects from landfill fire
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - A new report says a 15-day fire at the Iowa City Landfill has posed no lasting health threat to people in the community.
That news was given Thursday by Doug Beardsley, director of the Johnson County Health Department, to the county Board of Health.
Beardsley says while the fire produced a lot of smoke and particulate matter, winds caused it to dissipate quickly, keeping anyone from being exposed to the pollutants for long periods.
The fire began May 26 on roughly 7 1/2 acres in the 200-acre landfill, primarily in an unused portion. Initial efforts to contain it were unsuccessful, and the fire spread to a layer of shredded tires used for drainage.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
Burned and wilted vegetation is seen along the rim of a landfill cell as Iowa City firefighters and landfill employees continue to work to contain a smoldering fire of the liner system at the Iowa City Landfill on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Iowa City, Iowa. The fire started Saturday evening and is expected to burn for several days. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette-KCRG)
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