Air quality near Calgary landfill fire hits high-risk levels 'intermittently'

Alberta's environment minister says provincial air quality data shows smoke from a fire smouldering at a southeast Calgary landfill poses a low health risk for most of the city, but air quality has reached high-risk levels "intermittently" in some areas.

In a statement issued Monday, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Grant Hunter said the province has deployed a mobile air quality monitoring laboratory, including monitoring for fine and coarse particulate matter.

Hunter said air quality monitoring shows particulate matter (PM) 2.5 from smoke is the primary air quality concern associated with the fire, and the only pollutant to have exceeded Alberta's ambient air quality guidelines.

PM 2.5 consists of inhalable particles less than 2.5 millimetres in diameter, and can cause serious health problems, like lung and heart disease.

"PM2.5 exceedances have occurred intermittently rather than continuously, with some monitoring periods reaching concentrations comparable to the high-risk category of the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)," he said in the statement.

"Elevated concentrations have generally been localized and influenced by changing plume and wind conditions."

Hunter added the greatest risk of exposure has been in areas directly downwind of the fire.

The fire sparked Sept. 6 at ECCO Recycling and Energy Corp.’s former landfill site. Firefighters were able to suppress it the following day, but on Sept. 9, fires reignited and have been burning since.

Calgary fire crews continue to work to extinguish a fire burning at ECCO Recycling and Energy Corp.'s former landfill site in the southeast. Alberta's environment minister said in a statement Monday smoke from the fire poses a low risk to most of the city, but some areas have seen intermittent levels of high-risk. (Chelsey Mutter/CBC)

ECCO has said the site only contains dry construction materials, such as lumber and drywall, and hasn't accepted any new waste since 2024.

On Friday, the Calgary Fire Department issued a warning for residents in the surrounding communities of Douglasdale, Quarry Park, McKenzie Towne and New Brighton that the air quality was worsening and they should take precautions.

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas and Coun. Rob Ward also sent a joint letter to the province calling for the immediate release of detailed air quality testing results.

Hunter said air quality samples have been sent for expedited laboratory analysis to provide additional information about the smoke's composition.

He said the province "will continue to publicly release all air-monitoring data and laboratory results collected in response to this incident so Albertans can access timely information about local air-quality conditions."

In addition to the air quality monitoring, the province is also coordinating with the city to investigate whether there were any unauthorized materials at the site, Hunter said. The site is only authorized to accept inert waste, not hazardous materials.

"Depending on the findings and severity of any offence, enforcement action could include a warning letter, administrative penalties or prosecution," he said.

Thumbnail courtesy of Chelsey Mutter/CBC.

The story was originally written by and published for CBC News. It contains files from Jennifer Keiller.