Helicopter called to fire at Waikato region's largest landfill

Sunday, 31 March 2019

Residents near a huge landfill fire are being urged to stay inside with doors and windows closed due to a chemical risk.

Firefighters were called to the country's largest landfill at Hampton Downs - between Meremere and Te Kauwhata - around 10am on Sunday.

The rubbish fire was about 30 metres by 40 metres in size, Fire and Emergency northern communications shift manager Scott Osmond said.

Two helicopters have been working around the close to douse the blaze along with four pumping appliances and six tankers.

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Fire and Emergency NZ is asking residents within 10km downwind of the fire at Hampton Downs Landfill to keep their doors and windows closed and to stay inside, to prevent breathing in smoke.

The smoke may be toxic due to the range of household waste products burning at the site.

The landfill is at the end of Hampton Downs Road and is operated by EnviroWaste, and the company was working with the fire service.

The landfill is the largest of five operating in the Waikato region, Waikato Regional Council information says.

'The capacity of the Hampton Downs landfill is 30 million cubic metres and it is consented for 25 years, with 19 years remaining.'

Rural residents within this area who use roof water should stop collecting it immediately and clean their roof before collecting water again.