Crews still battling dump hotspots
(CNS): Despite hopes that the most extensive landfill blaze to date would have been completely extinguish by Monday, firefighters were still tackling emerging hot-spots and deep seated fires on Tuesday evening, officials confirmed. While the crews continued to make progress, they were still discovering new deep-seated fires as a result of the extent of the original blaze, but smoke levels are now minimal.
Firefighters and Department of Environmental Health crews were doing more of the same Tuesday, excavating, damping and capping the fires as they battle to finally stop the dump from burning.
“Our main focus now is to fully extinguish these deep seated pockets of fire,” said Chief Fire Officer Paul Walker, who was still hopeful the landfill would be operating as normal from the middle to end of this week.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: Local News
I do feel very bad for Lakeview residents. A close friend, who worked 3 jobs all her life, is living there, having purchased a 2bd condo many years ago.
What was supposed to be her life’ achievement, a dream come true, turned out to be a nightmare.
Renters can leave. Owners like her are stuck.
Most homeowners have never dealt with a smoke or fire damage insurance claims. The whole process can seem foreign.
A typical insurance policy does pay to replace or repair anything inside that home that may have been damaged by flames, smoke, soot, ash, and other byproducts of the fire.
Condo association insurance pays for exterior remediation.
Don’t wait to file a claim. The sooner you file a fire and smoke damage insurance claim, the smoother the claims process will be. Contact your insurance company immediately after securing the scene. Take lots of photos.
Claims processing will not be easy. Expect pushback from your insurance company at every step of the way when making fire or smoke damage insurance claims.
Even a failed garbage disposal is often complicated and requires evaluations by trained professionals. Insurance companies must not DENY A CLAIM WITHOUT INVESTIGATING IT. They have a duty to investigate the claim to avoid bad faith claims. The insurer MAY NOT fail to adopt and implement reasonable standards for the prompt investigation of claims arising under insurance policies.
It is rarely sufficient to have a serious loss inspected/evaluated ONLY by the adjuster assigned by your insurer. It is almost always necessary to have qualified professionals in addition to the adjuster’s inspection. If your insurer refuses to conduct or pay for proper inspections, ask again IN WRITING, politely remind them of their legal duty to thoroughly investigate all damage, including hidden damage. Contractors and Structural Engineers, a Certified Industrial Hygenist are just 2 examples of professionals qualified to test the air quality and the structural integrity of your roof/ beams, etc.
Roof: Your roof should be inspected for damage from burning embers. If heat was extreme, the roof structure may be compromised. Wood under the roofing material may be water stained and moldy. A roofing expert can verify damage.
Structural Steel, Iron: Steel and iron structures may transfer heat and destabilize a foundation or retaining wall.
Stucco, Siding and Concrete: Stucco may spall and crack due to dehydration and baking. Siding may melt after exposure to heat and mold may be present underneath. Heat may also damage an anchored foundation or footing and may require testing as well as concrete core sampling. Structural engineers may do x-ray testing and other miscellaneous forensic work.
Windows: Window frames may melt, blister or discolor due to heat. Glass can experience warping and discoloration and may lose some of its transparent clarity. Warped windows can lead to moisture problems and/or a mold problem.
Plumbing and Heating Systems: Pipes, solder/connectors and ducts should be checked for damage.
Interior Walls/Framing: A contractor conducting a thorough inspection of your home’s interior may need to open up walls to check for damage to the framing, or to uncover potentially dangerous mold. It’s better to uncover damage sooner rather than later. Be politely assertive in claim negotiations to make sure your home is restored to a “uniform and consistent” appearance as opposed to a “patchwork quilt” of unmatched new and old materials.
I feel for those living in that area. Mostly the poor around but also the nice houses and condos across from Fidel’s. We’ve had many opportunities to buy around there and there is no way in hell I’d be located by the dump. The risk to your health in that area is astounding.
“Our main focus now is to fully extinguish these deep seated pockets of fire,”
UNFORTUNATELY, CFS will be extinguishing “these deep seated pockets” for the rest of the Dump’s life. Armageddon prolonged.