Chiquita Canyon landfill has 90 acres of trash burning, state officials say

FOX 11 tours Chiquita Canyon landfill

The Chiquita Canyon landfill has faced concerns over acres of burning trash that residents say is toxic. The landfill allowed FOX 11 cameras inside.

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - For the first time since FOX 11 began covering the controversy engulfing Chiquita Canyon landfill, officials allowed us onto the property.  

The tour was designed to show steps they are taking to mitigate the smoldering chemical reaction that is literally burning acres and acres of garbage deep inside the facility. 

The backstory:

State officials have described the situation as an imminent threat to public safety.
Residents in the bordering town of Val Verde have reported noxious smells, nosebleeds, headaches, even a cancer cluster, according to California Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, a loud critic of the landfill.

The public outcry was able to shut down the facility from receiving any more waste, so the efforts now center on containing the ETLF or elevated temperature landfill event, which is rapidly expanding.

Los Angeles County has an active lawsuit against the facility.

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What we know:

Chiquita says the ETLF is between 30 and 45 acres. State officials dispute that, saying temperature readings indicate 90 acres. Whatever the size, both sides agree something has to be done.  

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Officials showed FOX 11 dozens of specialized pumps, miles and miles of pipes moving the contaminated liquid into tank farms for future treatment. They also installed 292 dual extraction wells, to remove the noxious gas emanating from the reaction. 

What's next:

Even with all that, the smell at ground zero is strong and eye-watering. The plan is to put even more covers on the ground, and more pumps to stop the gases from escaping through the soil.

But, Assemblywoman Shiavo says the efforts are not enough. She has introduced bills and a budget request asking, among other things, for funds to relocate families in Val Verde. 

On Thursday, LA County filed a motion for a preliminary injunction, seeking a court order that would require the landfill to do things like relocate residents affected by the noxious gases.