Fires in the waste industry are not discussed much unless one sees a giant smoke plume in the media, followed by advice to close your windows. In these (rare?) cases, we remind ourselves of the massive industry related to storing, sorting and recycling garbage, and the obvious environmental hazards such fires pose.

From 2017 to 2020, Poland experienced a challenging time with fires at landfills, primarily caused by arson or negligence. A bit later, when I was working on my chapter for the Handbook of Fire and the Environment, I saw Ragni Fjellgaard Mikalsen working on hers about waste fires, and I found that work very relevant and useful. Finally, it is time to dive deeper into the subject, and hence, I have Ragni on the podcast, and we talk about garbage!

Her expertise in smouldering fires and collaborations with Norwegian authorities bring invaluable insights into the unique fire risks faced by waste handling, processing, and storage facilities. From outdoor landfills to indoor recycling centres, Ragni shares how accurate fire reporting and comprehensive data analysis can significantly enhance fire safety protocols in this crucial sector. She introduces us to the "traffic light" system to illustrate the risks at different facilities.

Balancing ideal waste storage practices with economic realities is no small feat. In this episode, Ragni discusses the intricacies of managing waste storage, from controlling moisture and temperature in storage piles to proper sorting practices to minimise impurities in incoming waste. We also cover the urgent need for governmental intervention and innovative insurance solutions to tackle the high-hazard waste mismanagement issues in places like Poland.

And here are the promised further reading resources from Ragni:

Link to waste paper: 

Fires in waste facilities: Challenges and solutions from a Scandinavian perspective, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2020.103023 

Link to Handbook: 

Chapter 13 on Mitigation Strategies for Waste Fires in Handbook of Fire and the Environment: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-94356-1

The Norwegian info is based on work by RISE Fire Research in Norway: 

• R.F. Mikalsen, K. Glansberg, K. Storesund, S. Ranneklev, Branner I Avfallsanlegg (Fires in Waste Storage) RISE-report 2019:61, RISE Fire Research, Trondheim,2019. https://risefr.no/media/publikasjoner/upload/2019/rise-rapport-2019-61-branner-i-avfallsanlegg.pdf

The Swedish info is based on work by RISE in Sweden: 

• A. Lønnermark, P. Blomqvist. Emissions from Fires in Electrical and Electronics Waste ISSN 0284-5172, SP report 2005:42, SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, Sweden, 2005. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn¼urn%3Anbn%3Ase%3Ari%3Adiva-4695 .
• A. Lønnermark, H. Persson, P. Blomqvist, W. Hogland, Biobränslen Och Avfall - Brands€akerhet i Samband Med Lagring (Biofuels and solid waste – fire safety in connection with storage) SP Report, SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, Sweden, 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn%3Anbn%3Ase%3Alnu%3Adiva-3575
• A. Lønn

Thank you to the SFPE for recognizing me with the 2025 SFPE Fire Safety Engineering Award! Huge thanks to YOU for being a part of this, and big thanks to the OFR for supporting me over the years.

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