Barrie landfill closes temporarily due to small fire

Staff say this is the second time this week a fire ignited in the same spot.

The City of Barrie said it closed the landfill to the public for the rest of the afternoon on Friday.

The closure comes as a cautionary measure due to smoke from a small fire that set off within a wood-waste pile.

Fire services said the fire was around 30 by 60 metres in size.

According to Scott Lamantia with the City of Barrie, there was another fire earlier this week in the same spot and it reignited Friday morning.

He said due to the fact that it’s in a pile of mulch, the fire could reignite.

The City said fires can happen sometimes in piles of wood or organic material. Heat can build up naturally during the decomposition process, the City said.

Staff are on site with Barrie Fire and Emergency Services to monitor and manage the situation, according to the City.

Barrie Fire said they had two trucks on scene, taking about one hour to put out.

The City said it plans to have the landfill reopened by Saturday morning.

The cause of the fire is unknown.