Fire at Yellowknife landfill likely caused by wrongly tossed electronics
Fire was quickly extinguished, but prompted warning from the city
A fire at the Yellowknife landfill Tuesday was likely caused by electronics that weren't disposed of correctly, according to the city.
In a news release Wednesday, the city said public works staff and the Yellowknife Fire Division quickly responded and put out the fire.
"While the situation is under control, the City emphasizes that during wildfire season, incidents like this could present a much greater threat to public safety and the environment," the news release stated.
It said electronics that get damaged or compressed can become flammable when waste is being compacted.
"We strongly remind all residents that electronics and other hazardous materials must be properly sorted, separated from household waste, and disposed of through the appropriate channels," the city wrote.
It also issued a reminder that it has a list of household hazardous materials as well as a list of what electronics can be recycled.