Issuing an update on the ECCO landfill fire, Fire Chief Steve Dongworth warned residents that while surface smoke may subside in the coming days, complete suppression could take weeks or even months.
The fire broke out on September 6, 2026, and presented immediate tactical challenges due to limited site access, unstable ground conditions, and deep-seated combustion within the waste pile. Covering an area equal to seven or eight Canadian Football League fields and containing an estimated one million cubic metres of material, the incident is one of the largest landfill fires in the city’s history.
“As you’ll be able to see in the overhead drone footage that we’ve provided, this is literally a mountain of garbage with deep pockets of active fire,” stated Chief Dongworth. “The steep, mountainous face of this fire makes access for crews and trucks particularly challenging.”
Emergency crews, private contractors, and partner agencies have employed specialized suppression techniques. The primary strategy is focused on capping and smothering active fires with dirt, an industry-standard method designed to smother deep-seated embers and minimize smoke. Authorities may also deploy carbon dioxide injection to suppress subterranean hot spots.
“We are prioritizing actions that will reduce smoke impact on neighbouring communities. However, unlike a structure fire, landfill fires can burn for extended periods beneath the surface, making them difficult to locate and extinguish,” said Chief Dongworth.
“Although we should be able to control smoke from the fire in the next few days, this incident could last weeks or even months until onsite fire risk is fully mitigated,” Dongworth warned.
Officials cautioned that periodic flare-ups and temporary spikes in visible flames or smoke will continue as heavy equipment uncovers hidden burn pockets beneath the surface.
Smoke emissions continue to affect a large section of Calgary communities including East Shepard, Remington, Copperfield, New Brighton, McKenzie Towne, Quarry Park, Mahogany, McKenzie Lake, Douglasdale, Seton, Cranston, Chaparral, Lake Bonavista, Riverbend, Parkland, Legacy, Deer Run, and Altadore.
Earlier this week, the province’s Mobile Air Monitoring Laboratory recorded one fine particulate matter reading that exceeded Alberta ambient air quality guidelines. While no further exceptions were measured, officials noted that localized air quality may shift significantly depending on wind patterns, terrain, and local conditions.
Therefore, monitoring results may not reflect individual exposures at all locations.
Residents in smoke-affected areas are advised to limit outdoor physical exertion, keep doors and windows closed, and contact Health Link at 811 for health-related concerns.
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