Fire at Kaunas waste management company Žalvaris fully extinguished

A large fire that broke out Monday evening at the waste management company Žalvaris in Kaunas has been fully extinguished, Lithuania’s Fire and Rescue Department confirmed Tuesday morning.

The blaze, reported just after 5 p.m. on Palemono Street, was localized within an hour and declared fully under control by 8:23 p.m., according to Konradas Liekis, chief specialist at the department’s Situation Coordination Division. “The fire was in an open area. The most time-consuming part was turning and relocating the waste,” Liekis told BNS.

Around 200 square meters of mixed waste caught fire in one of the company’s open-air storage sectors, where non-hazardous industrial waste from clients was kept. Žalvaris stated the fire remained contained due to separate masonry storage sections on site, preventing it from spreading to other areas or buildings. No injuries or damage to people, structures, or equipment were reported.

Witnesses described thick black smoke and falling ash near the scene, where several businesses operate, including Žalvaris. Authorities advised nearby residents to stay indoors, close windows, and avoid outdoor exposure due to potential smoke hazards. The National Public Health Center (NVSC) warned of possible respiratory irritation, coughing, or allergic reactions from fume exposure.

Investigators suspect spontaneous combustion as the likely cause, though the official determination will follow a full inquiry. This marks the second major fire at the facility in recent years; in August 2022, 135 tons of paper and 250 tons of plastic burned in a sorting warehouse.

Sources: LRT.lt, BNS