In the landfill of the Authority for Sustainable Management of the Basin and Lake Amatitlán (AMSA)located in the Kilometer 22 of the Route to Pacific, Villa Nueva, Guatemala, there have been several significant fires in the last five years.
One of the most notable occurred almost a year ago, in April 2024, when a fire of great proportions affected the landfill, generating strong air pollution in the capital and leading to the suspension of classes in three departments.
At the end of 2020 and early 2021, another fire was recorded in the AMSA landfill, which evidenced deficiencies in the operation of solid waste management in the country.
Since then, these incidents have highlighted the need to improve regulations and services related to solid waste management in Guatemala to prevent sinister futures and their consequences on public health, they warned of environmentalists.
Chronology
March 2025
The most recent fire declared the Sunday March 16, 2025, from the 13.45 hourswhat has caused a accumulation of toxic gases and particles in air.
The fire spread in two of the six platforms that has the landfill, and almost 24 hours later, at 9:40 in the morning of this Monday, March 17, 2025The authorities reported that it has not yet been controlled.
Although the authorities reported that the incident was controlled by 50%, there is still a job to do to extinguish it. Only 35% of the affected area has been completely liquidated, which means that the fire has been extinguished in that area.
The crews work in the area to contain the flames, which threaten to expand to a wooded area on the side of the upper part of the slope where the fire originated.
The authorities recommended to the population to use mask and, at home, maintain closed doors and windows to avoid the entry of particles that can transport metals and other toxic pollutants.
It also suggested driving with the glass up and avoiding outdoor activities to reduce the risk of health damage.
As one of the containment measures, the arrival of the residues of the 33 municipalities that deposit their load in this landfill was arrested, which, together with that of the capital zone, is the one that receives the largest amount of waste nationwide.
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April 2024
The fire in April 2024 He began Sunday 7 And it was completely controlled until Sunday 14according to official reports. In total, the fire It lasted approximately seven days.
The work was complicated due to the constant winds of wind and the spread of the fire to a greater number of platforms.
A particular fact is that in the Platforms 4 and 5 The light bulbs persisted until the last days of the incident, the same sectors where the fire is currently active.
December 2020 – February 2021
Until now, this fire has been considered the most serious at that point, since it extended for months.
The fire began in mid -December 2020 and several foci still did not completely extinguish until February 2021. Climate changes and rains helped reduce the emergency.
This fire also caused serious health problems among the residents of the areas near the landfill, who presented respiratory conditions due to air pollution.
The National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh) issued various bulletins to warn of high levels of pollution generated by this fire.
Why have the fires not controlled quickly?
During the three fires reported in recent years, a crucial factor that has hindered its extinction has been the increase in wind speed.
In particular, the location of the landfill in km 22 of Villa Nueva, in an open -pit area, has allowed the wind to blow with greater intensity, generating additional complications:
- The wind has generated air currents that have brought the flames and embers to farther areas, hindering its control. It has also made the fire spread to other platforms.
- It has generated swirls of dust and toxic gases that have affected the visibility and breathing of firefighters, complicating extinction work.
- It has dispersed toxic gases and has increased the concentration of suspended particles, increasing air pollution and affecting the health of the population.