The Smithers-Telkwa Waste Transfer Station is temporarily closed following an early morning fire June 17.
Telkwa fire chief Laurence Turney said his crew responded to a call at around 4 a.m. and discovered the trailer the station uses for processing trash inside the building was ablaze.
Firefighters battled the flames for approximately two-and-half hours with some water supply support from Smithers Fire Rescue.
Turney said fire damage was restricted to the trailer, but the building sustained heat and smoke damage. Telkwa Fire Rescue recommended the station be closed until the damage could be assessed.
Following an assessment, the Regional District reported it expects to be able to reopen the dump on Friday.
It is also unknown at this time whether the trailer is damaged beyond repair. Turney said they will be removing it from the building this afternoon to determine the extent of the damage.
Smithers CAO Alan Harris said the Town has canceled garbage pickup for today and tomorrow with the intention of collecting it during the next cycle.
Telkwa director of operations Lev Hartfeil said the impact on the village is minimal. Telkwa will be picking up garbage today and tomorrow as scheduled and diverting it to the Knockholt Sub-Regional Landfill 12 km east of Houston.
The cause of the fire is still uncertain at this time.
More to come.
editor@interior-news.com
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