MEDICAL LAKE, Wash – The Department of Ecology is developing a plan for how to extinguish an underground landfill fire that’s been burning since the Gray Fire in August 2023.
The landfill is at the Eastern State Hospital Pine Lodge location. The state says buildings on the property were demolished and landfilled in approximately the 1950s 100 feet from the shoreline of West Medical Lake.
According to Dept. of Ecology, “The landfill appears to primarily consist of tiles, concrete, insulation and other building-related debris.”
Preliminary testing shows debris contains asbestos and could contain other hazardous substances like arsenic, lead and mercury.
After the Gray Fire tore through the area in 2023, Department of Social and Health Services discovered the landfill material was still burning underground.
According to a state report, Spokane County Fire District 3 tried several times to put the fire out. They opted to leave it over the winter, thinking snow and cold weather would extinguish it.
In January, the fire district said it’s out of options and requested assistance “due to concerns over air quality impacts and proximity to West Medical Lake.”
Department of Ecology says thermal imaging shows temperatures of more than 800 degrees. DSHS put clean soil over the site, hoping to control emissions from the fire.
DSHS is asking the legislature to provide funding to help with remediation.
You can read more about the site and the potential remediation at this link.
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