Kaunas waste firm 'Žalvaris' ablaze again as black smoke forces residents indoors

Key facts

• at 17:14 local time on Monday at Žalvaris waste management company in Palemono Street, Kaunas.
• Flames broke out in outdoor waste piles; the blaze was localized by around 18:15 after roughly one hour.
• No casualties or injuries have been reported.
• Emergency alerts sent to residents' phones urging them to stay indoors and close windows.
• A similar major fire at Žalvaris in August 2022 destroyed 135 tons of paper and 250 tons of plastic.
• The company's site has experienced multiple fires in recent years, including one nearly a year ago involving lead slag.
• Around 10 firefighting vehicles were dispatched to the scene.
• Environment Protection Department specialists are monitoring the situation.

Blaze erupts at waste facility

A large fire broke out Monday afternoon at the Palemono Street premises of Žalvaris, a waste management company in Kaunas, sending a column of black smoke into the sky and prompting emergency warnings for nearby residents. at 17:14 local time, according to the Situations Coordination Department of the Fire Protection and Rescue Department. Thick, dark fumes rose from the site, and witnesses described ash falling in the vicinity.

Firefighters contain the flames within an hour

Firefighting forces were quickly dispatched, with approximately ten fire engines responding. By around 18:15, the fire had been localized, a duty officer at the Fire Protection and Rescue Department told BNS. Crews then began excavation and transfer of the burning material. 'Pollution is local, and as long as we haven't dug through and moved all the garbage, there will be some smoldering,' the officer said.

No injuries reported as residents urged to take precautions

No casualties have been reported, and the Kaunas Fire Rescue Board has no information on any injuries. Emergency alerts were sent to residents' mobile phones, advising them to avoid going outside and to close windows and doors. The National Public Health Center (NVSC) recommended that those near the fire move upwind of the smoke, turn off mechanical ventilation systems, cover wells, and keep animals indoors. Motorists were told to keep car windows tightly shut when passing the area.

Recurring fires at Žalvaris raise concerns

This is not the first fire at the Žalvaris site. A major blaze in August 2022 destroyed 135 tons of paper and 250 tons of plastic in secondary waste sorting facilities, causing explosions and blanketing the district in smoke. Another fire occurred less than a year ago, involving a pile of various inorganic materials including lead slag spread over about 30 square meters. The company's history of fires has drawn scrutiny from environmental authorities.

Environmental monitoring under way

Specialists from the Environment Protection Department have arrived at the scene to assess the situation. The Fire Protection and Rescue Department duty officer noted that the pollution is currently localized, but the smoldering may continue until the waste is fully excavated and moved. The NVSC warned that exposure to pollutants can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, shortness of breath, coughing, reduced lung function, increased susceptibility to respiratory infections, and exacerbated allergic reactions.

Cause remains unknown as investigation continues

The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. Kaunas Fire Rescue Board chief Vidas Barauskas stated that it is unclear what exactly is burning, though it appears to be waste stored outdoors. 'Our forces are already working and we hope to extinguish it. The fire is in the territory, not inside buildings. It seems some kind of waste is burning. We'll see when we put it out. We have no information yet on hazardous materials,' Barauskas said.

The bottom line

• A fire at Žalvaris in at 17:14 and localized within an hour; no injuries occurred.
• Residents were advised to stay indoors with windows closed due to smoke and potential pollutants.
• This is the third major fire at the same facility in recent years, following incidents in 2022 and 2023.
• The cause of the fire is not yet known, and hazardous materials have not been confirmed.
• Environmental authorities are monitoring the situation, and cleanup operations are ongoing.