The fire that has been burning for most of the week at the Rice County Landfill continues to smolder and flare, and while it is contained, the area where it is burning is large, and it continues to cause problems for both landfill staff and area fire departments.
Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Service Chief Tom Nelson said the fire is unconventional in several ways. There is no readily available water where firefighters can connect hoses, so they have set up a tanker shuttle. Even then, however, the fire is difficult to reach. Equipment cannot be driven to the fire because the landscape is made up of trash heaps. The county has been bringing in dirt, which is being used by landfill employees and firefighters to smother flare ups. The fire is posing many difficulties, simply because of its very nature
“The problem is that this isn’t one of those fires that you just dump water on. It’s not like grass or organic material. Water bounces off and runs off, so the best way to handle it is covering it. The landfill staff is working with the MPCA and other landfill people, and they’re also looking at contractors to come in and help.”
Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about the quality of the air in the area because of the fire. Northfield EMS Chief Brian Edwards said those concerns are warranted.
“I think Northfield has been especially hit because we’ve had a southerly flow of wind over the past few days. Because the fire is smoldering, it doesn’t tend to burn up. There’s just a lot of stuff that hangs in the air, so people that are really sensitive to ozone alerts, quality of air problems really need to be alert for that and make sure they stay ahead of it.”
A statement issued by the County earlier this week said landfill fires can pose hazards to both human health and the environment. The smoke and ash generated can contain particulate matter, which can cause respiratory issues, especially for individuals with pre-existing conditions. In addition, due to the wildfires burning in Canada there are already existing air quality issues in Southern Minnesota.
Precautions should be taken when the air quality is unhealthy. If possible, stay away from local sources of air pollution, limit or postpone physical activity and stay indoors. Anyone with asthma or other respiratory conditions like COPD should make sure they have their rescue or relief inhalers with them.
Rice County has set up a page on its website where residents can find the most recent updates on the fire. For the most recent information, visit ricecountymn.gov/694/Landfill-fire-updates.
Age Friendly Northfield and Fifty North support Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Aging in Place has become a major topic of conversation within the community over the past months. The Northfield Housing and Development Authority has a program in place to help modify homes to make things easier for those growing older. Rice County Habitat for Humanity has a similar program. Age Friendly Northfield has just completed a series of seminars about aging in place which will be repeated this fall. And Rice County has begun working with an organization called Family Service Rochester, who offer a program to support aging in place.
As people get older, in order to stay in their homes, they need to have a support system. Northfield EMS Chief Brian Edwards said it is something he observed for many years while working in an ambulance crew.
“I think Northfield has been especially hit because we’ve had a southerly flow of wind over the past few days. Because the fire is smoldering, it doesn’t tend to burn up. There’s just a lot of stuff that hangs in the air, so people that are really sensitive to ozone alerts, quality of air problems really need to be alert for that and make sure they stay ahead of it.”
Anne Pleskonko, who is coordinating Family Service Rochester’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors program in Rice County, said her organization is looking for people in need. She visits people in their home and does an evaluation of their support system to identify their needs. Some, she said, don’t know their neighbors and don’t have a family, and have larger needs. Others, she said, need help with housekeeping, or lawncare or snow removal.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors brings in volunteers to help with some of those services, along with some transportation help, and respite help for caregivers, for which she said, there is a large need.
Caregiver Respite service offers some time for a caregiver to take a break. Pleskonko said it gives the caregivers a chance to go to the grocery store, visit with a friend or just take a nap. The respite volunteers come in for 2-4 and sit with the person receiving the care. The volunteers do not offer any personal care themselves, said Pleskonko. They are simply there to help both the caregiver and the care receiver.
“We have a sheet with lots of things they can do, and lots of good ideas. Take them for a walk or do some puzzles or maybe just, you know, listen to some beautiful music. [The volunteers] will sit with them and be a part of their lives for that couple of hours.”
Patty Cernia of Age Friendly Northfield and FiftyNorth said FiftyNorth will host a Caregiver Forum with Pleskonko at 10am on June 13th. The program will offer resources for both caregivers and care receivers, touching on volunteer opportunities, the caregiver respite program, and caregiving planning.
Those interested in volunteering with Neighbors Helping Neighbors can find more information on the Northfield Shares Volunteer Hub at northfieldshares.org. For more information on the Caregiver Forum, visit fiftynorth.org or agefriendlynorthfield.com
Summer reading program is for kids, adults and baseball fans
Children, teens, and now adults will soon be able to sign up for the Northfield Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Challenge.
To emphasize games, community, and summer fun, the Summer Reading Challenge has a baseball theme this year. Participants will find themselves “running the bases” with opportunities to collect limited edition buttons with art by local artist Rocky Casillas Aguirre, a free book at second base, and a grand prize raffle entry when they reach home plate.
The library will also sponsor a Dundas Dukes game at Memorial Park at 2pm on Sunday, June 18. Library staff and the bookmobile will be there an hour before and throughout the game so fans can register for the Summer Reading Challenge, check out items from the bookmobile. Director of Library Services Natalie Draper said, a special representative of the library will throw out the first pitch.
“[Northfield Library Mascot] Sparkles the Unicorn will be throwing out the first pitch at the Dukes game on June 18th, and it may or may not be me in the costume. We’ll see who volunteers for that one. It will be whoever has the strongest pitching arm so it’s definitely not going to be me.”
All ages may register for the Summer Reading Challenge online or in person, and all materials will be available in English and Spanish. More information and registration will be available June 5th.
Rich Larson’s full conversation with Director of Library Services Natalie Draper can be heard here
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
