Navotas landfill fire spots drop as control efforts advance
By Trixee Rosel
Navotas City continues containment operations at the sanitary landfill as hotspots steadily decline amid intensified smothering efforts. (Photo courtesy of Tiangco/Facebook)
The Navotas City government reported major progress in battling the old landfill fire, with intensified soil-smothering operations driving down fire spots and signaling stronger control of the blaze.
Mayor John Rey Tiangco said soil covering has reached about 27 percent, or 8.13 hectares of the affected area.
He added that the effort is supported by the continuous delivery of higher-quality soil and an additional 1,200 metric tons of limestone powder from Limay, Bataan to reinforce ongoing fire suppression efforts.
Thermal imaging conducted by the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) on April 21 showed a marked decrease in hotspots compared to April 14.
The result reflects improved fire conditions and validates the effectiveness of current containment measures.
Authorities have maintained the deployment of additional heavy equipment and personnel to speed up operations.
Timelapse monitoring continues to show reduced fire intensity and smoke emissions across the site.
In the next 24 hours, responders will focus on expanding soil covering in remaining hotspot areas, completing on-site fuel storage and communication systems, and continuing access road construction to ensure safer movement of equipment and soil delivery.
Misting operations will also be intensified to further suppress smoke.
The city government assured nearby communities that all measures are being expedited to fully contain the fire and ensure public safety.