Public Services’ Rob Roussel checks the temperature at one of the Mont Cuet boreholes. It seems as though pumping millions of gallons of water into the landfill site has stopped the fire below. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0809371)

MONT CUET’S fire has been put out after more than 10 million gallons of water were pumped into the landfill site.

Having spent more than five months and £1m. putting out the fire, Public Services said the plan has worked.

Patrick Pointer, a director of C and P Environmental, who has eight years’ experience of tackling sub-surface fires, told the department that he was confident the hotspot had been extinguished because less gas was being produced.

‘Having reviewed the latest data, I am confident that the project has been successful,’ said Mr Pointer.

‘We need to continue monitoring and cannot guarantee that the hotspot will not reappear, but all the indications are pointing to the fire being out.’

Water was pumped into the tip during April and May. That was removed and pumped back in to continue the cooling.

The level of liquid left in the landfill site is now almost back to normal, with 500 cubic metres treated and discharged daily.

At the end of the operation, Public Services’ records showed a massive drop in the amount of hydrogen – from more than 20,000 parts per million to 300 parts per million – and carbon monoxide.

Temperature readings taken from within the 50 boreholes which had been drilled as part of the project have also fallen greatly.

The average temperature on Monday 13 July was 38C, which is below the typical range of between 40C and 50C for the site.