Firefighters have managed to bring a fire at the ECCO Recycling facility in Calgary’s Shepard Industrial area under control. The multi-agency suppression effort which began over a week ago continues to make positive progress.
While the incident is now contained, the Calgary Fire Department (CFD) clarified that “under control” indicates that assigned tactics and resources are successfully advancing. Efforts to completely extinguish the fire are still underway. Emergency personnel, private contractors, and partner agencies are deploying specialized landfill fire suppression methods across an affected area spanning approximately 43,000 square metres—roughly equivalent to eight Canadian Football League fields.
The strategy employed thus far, has been capping and smothering the subterranean burn with dirt. Tactical estimates indicate that crews will roughly require 6,000 cubic metres of soil—enough material to cover two football fields in a 60-centimetre layer—following industrial best practices designed to prevent reignition in deep-seated landfill fires.
Heavy equipment operators are actively moving clean fill into position while fire crews douse hot spots with targeted water applications to maintain safe working conditions. CFD officials noted that water usage is being carefully managed, as excessive runoff can erode freshly laid earth and degrade access roads. Environmental monitoring teams are capturing runoff to protect municipal stormwater systems.
The blaze initially broke out on September 6, 2026, when CFD crews responded to reports of heavy smoke at the private waste facility. Firefighters encountered immediate challenges, including limited site access, unstable ground, and deep-seated combustion within compacted landfill layers.
Unlike traditional structural fires, landfill blazes can burn undetected deep beneath the surface for extended periods. CFD officials cautioned that as excavators expose buried hot spots, residents may observe temporary spikes in visible flames and smoke plume intensity. Authorities emphasize that these flare-ups are a routine part of uncovering and extinguishing subterranean pockets.
Alberta Environment and Protected Areas continues to conduct surrounding air quality assessments. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) remains the primary atmospheric concern, with conditions shifting alongside wind direction. While general health risks for the broader city remain low, health officials advise sensitive populations—including young children, older adults, pregnant individuals, and those with pre-existing respiratory or cardiac conditions—to limit outdoor exertion and keep windows closed when smoke is present.
Sept15 Drone Aerial Image side by side with Thermal Imaging
Sept 8 End of day conditions
Sept 9 Fire reignition and spread