Fires broke out at the Great River Regional Waste Authority landfill Thursday and Saturday. Firefighters spent more than five hours extinguishing both fires. Combustible materials, such as aerosol cans, were ignited during the flames, said Fire Chief Michael Walker.
The Fort Madison Fire Department has to replace at least $2,000 worth of equipment used to get the fire under control. The city will have to pay firefighters overtime for their work.
The fire cost GRRWA at least $10,000, said Tim Yoder, the agency's director.
Thursday's fire began in a 50-square-foot area near the front of the landfill. The fire on Saturday burned an area nearly twice the size of the first blaze.
The cause of either of the fires has not been determined, though Yoder said he does not suspect a chemical reaction was the cause.
