Landfill fire likely caused by exploding lithium battery

Updated June 23, 8:20 a.m.

What you need to know:

• A fire that broke out early Monday evening in a construction and demolition debris cell at the Mat-Su Central Landfill was likely caused by an exploding lithium battery.
• The fire sent a large plume of black smoke into the air that was visible for miles.
• Fire crews from across the Matanuska-Susitna Borough battled the blaze. Emergency medical personnel were on hand to assess first responders.

PALMER — A fire that broke out Monday evening at the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Central Landfill was likely caused by an exploding lithium battery, borough officials said Tuesday.

The fire burned deep into a construction and demolition debris cell as 17 water tenders from fire departments across the borough battled the blaze until 1:30 a.m., when it was fully extinguished, landfill officials said in a social media post. It was contained about 11 p.m., Emergency Services Director Ken Barkley said. 

The blaze was initially contained within the construction debris, Barkley said. Photos shared Monday by the Mat-Su Borough showed that it spread to tires near the cell. The was not at risk of spreading beyond the demolition debris cell, Barkley said Monday.

The battery likely triggered the blaze as crews compacted the cell Monday evening, landfill officials said in the social media post.

Landfill rules require lithium batteries to be separated and disposed of in the hazardous waste section. There is no charge to dispose of lithium batteries, officials said.

Original story (Last updated June 22, 8:55 p.m.)

PALMER — A fire that broke out early Monday evening at the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Central Landfill in an area used for construction and demolition waste is not at risk of spreading, borough emergency officials said.

The fire sent a large plume of black smoke that was visible for miles as crews worked for more than an hour to contain the blaze.

The fire was primarily limited to woody construction debris in a 150-by-150-foot area, borough emergency services director Ken Barkley said. While initial reports said no plastics or tires were involved in the blaze, photos posted to the borough's Facebook account showed some tires on fire.

Crews from Central Mat-Su, Palmer, Sutton, Butte, Willow, Houston and West Lakes fire departments responded. Emergency medical personnel were on scene to monitor first responders, Barkley said.

An Alaska State Trooper patrol vehicle blocked the landfill entrance as a stream of curious onlookers drove through the area.

Water tenders were filling trucks at fire hydrants on the Mat-Su College campus about 3 miles from the landfill entrance.

Fire crews were expected to remain on site overnight to monitor the area, borough officials said in a social media post.

The fire was first reported at about 5:15 p.m.

The landfill, located on 49th State Street near Palmer, was closed to the public at the time of the blaze. The landfill closes at 5 p.m.

A November 2024 blaze that started in a construction and demolition waste cell spread to nearby tires temporarily stored in the area. Improperly dumped trash caused the fire, landfill manager Jeff Smith said at the time.

— Contact Amy Bushatz at contact@matsusentinel.com.