Bella Vista Warned Of Unsafe Air Near Underground Dump Fire
BELLA VISTA, Ark. (AP) — A property owner’s association is warning residents about the unhealthy air near an underground fire that’s been burning for 10 months at a former unlicensed dump in northwest Arkansas.
Crews began fighting the fire Saturday at the Trafalgar Road site in Bella Vista, about 170 miles (270 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Bella Vista Property Owners Association’s chief operating officer Tom Judson says the goal is to quench the fire within 30 days.
The fire that’s burning at least 70 feet (21 meters) underground was first reported in July.
Some residents say smoke from the fire has caused respiratory and other health problems .
Arkansas’ Legislature passed a bill in March appropriating $20 million to help clean up the fire.