Discarded Matchbooks Start Fire It’S Second Recent Blaze At County Transfer Station

For the second time this week, a large load of discarded matches ignited a fire Thursday at the Kootenai County transfer station.

A fire at the county landfill over the weekend also was sparked by thousands of matchbooks thrown out with chemicals, said Steve Wolf, county solid waste director.

Drug investigators say matchbook striker plates are commonly used in the methamphetamine-making process. A chemical is extracted from the plates and used in the manufacturing process.

In each of the recent fires, tens of thousands of unused matchbooks were stuffed into a garbage sack left at rural dump sites, Wolf said.

Flammable chemicals, such as white fuel and acetone, also have been found with some of the matches.

“Once (the bag) seems to get broken open, it just bursts into flames,” Wolf said. “It’s a scorching, engulfing flame.”

Thursday’s fire engulfed the contents of a transfer station trailer. County transfer employees, trained to battle small fires, quickly doused the flames with fire extinguishers and water hoses.

The blaze, which caused minimal damage, briefly closed the transfer station on Ramsey Road.

A weekend fire in the transfer station pit also was stopped before it caused significant damage. The third fire, at the county’s landfill, ignited under a front-loader, and nearly burned the tractor’s tires.

“It’s like a little bomb going off and all the sudden you have a big fire,” Wolf said.

County officials have asked state drug agents for training on how to deal with the volatile loads. They also are asking residents who notice anything suspicious at the dump sites to stay away and call authorities.

Wolf said the rural dump sites are patrolled daily, but cannot be constantly monitored.