Approximately 40 firefighters are battling a large fire at a waste-dump site in Berehove, Zakarpattia region, which has burned for two consecutive days [1].

The incident highlights the volatility of waste management sites during high-wind conditions, where deep layers of refuse can create subterranean fires that are difficult to extinguish.

Emergency responders deployed 20 units of special equipment to the scene to combat the blaze [1]. The fire has spread over an area of approximately two hectares [1].

Officials said strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly across the site. Suppression efforts have been hindered by the composition of the dump, as waste layers reaching several meters deep allow the fire to persist beneath the surface [1].

The operation remains active on Thursday, July 23, as crews work to prevent further spread and fully extinguish the remaining hotspots [1].

“The fire has spread over an area of approximately two hectares.”

The difficulty in suppressing this fire underscores the systemic risk associated with deep-layer landfills. When waste is piled several meters deep, oxygen can be trapped in pockets, allowing fires to burn internally for days despite surface-level intervention, often requiring specialized equipment to penetrate the debris.