Lincoln City officials say that Solid Waste Operations staff extinguished a slow-burning fire in a pile of yard waste at the North 48th Street Solid Waste Management Facility. Smoke from the fire continues to dissipate.
The fire had been burning for several days and produced a smoky smell in north Lincoln. “Our team methodically isolated the burning material by removing the surrounding material that was not affected,” says Karla Welding, Solid Waste Management Superintendent. “The team then spread out the burning material and applied water only on that affected grass and leaves until it was no longer burning.”
Welding says this type of fire can sometimes happen when heat is generated during the natural biological decomposition of the leaves and yard waste. The Lancaster County Health Department says air quality in Lincoln is rated as good. The department monitors air quality 24 hours a day and encourages residents to check the Air Quality Index (AQI) before heading outdoors to stay informed of ongoing air quality conditions.
The AQI is available at airnow.gov and is updated hourly.