Environment Canada issued a special statement on air quality in relation to the fire that broke out at ECCO Recycling on Friday night. In the warning, the service said the fire “produces high levels of air pollutants in the area”. “People may experience symptoms such as increased cough, sore throat, headaches or shortness of breath. Children, the elderly and those with cardiovascular or lung disease, such as asthma, are particularly at risk,” wrote Environment Canada. The air quality statement was announced around 2 p.m. The Calgary Fire Department responded to the ECCO fire at about 8:10 p.m. after several residents in Quarry Park reported extensive smoke in the area. As of Saturday afternoon, crews are still on stage and are estimated to pump about 13,000 gallons of water into the fire every minute. Officials say they are making progress. “The problem with landfill fires is that they are very deep in the ground,” said CFD leader Paul Frederick. “It’s a combination of drowning them in dirt and watering them. It’s just a persistent, persistent fire that takes a long time to put out.” Staff also helped put out the fire, but lost a bulldozer in the process. No one was injured.
