Fires in Waste Treatment Facilities: Challenges and Solutions from a Fire Investigation Perspective

Abstract

Fires in waste treatment facilities have significant social, economic, and environmental implications. Factors such as self-heating of lithium-ion batteries, thermal runaway, friction, human activities, technical errors, and unfavorable storage conditions contribute to these fires. High-risk categories include illegal dumping sites, recycle collection stations, and wood-related facilities. The frequency of fires in waste treatment facilities and the emergence of new waste types have led to public discontent. Regulatory challenges and oversight difficulties pose further obstacles. This study analyzes fire incidents in Kaohsiung City’s waste treatment facilities over the past five years, exploring their causes, regulatory frameworks, and practical challenges. Valuable insights and recommendations are provided to enhance fire safety and risk assessment. These measures aim to mitigate fires’ environmental and facility consequences and their impact. Prioritizing fire prevention and reducing potential economic, social, and environmental consequences are crucial for improving fire safety in waste treatment facilities. Addressing these challenges and prioritizing the safety and sustainability of the waste treatment industry is imperative.

Long-Term Polyethylene (Bio)Degradation in Landfill: Environmental and Human Health Implications from Comprehensive Analysis

“…Most of them possibly appeared because of fires sometimes occurring in MWLs [ 44 ] as the result of a combustion process. According to study [ 45 ], substances such as pyrene, anthracene, and fluoranthene, which form during combustion, were detected in soil and air samples, respectively.…”

Impact of Fires at Illegal Waste Storage Sites on Soil Contamination—A Study of Five Cases from Poland

“…Depending on the composition of the deposited waste, various toxic compounds can be emitted during a fire [7,10,11]. Storage site fires can pose a substantial environmental threat through air, groundwater, surface water, soil, and crop pollution [12][13][14]. A survey conducted by Raudonyt ė-Svirbutavičien ė et al has shown the presence of high quantities of heavy metals (HMs), trace elements, mutagenic compounds, toxic and carcinogenic substances, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as well as solid particles [15].…”