'Extremely serious' landfill fire closes dump in Prince Rupert through long weekend

A landfill fire in Prince Rupert has closed the municipal dump through the long weekend, with the earliest possible reopening coming on Tuesday, the city says.

In a statement posted online, the northwest B.C. city says the fire was discovered Friday morning and was followed by an immediate closure.

"Under advisement of our landfill consultant, the City landfill will remain closed over the weekend with the intention to reopen on Tuesday morning, pending confirmation that it is safe to do so," the statement says.

"Landfill fires are extremely serious and require particular fire response and management, requiring automatic closures when they are detected. The City has reported the incident to environmental authorities and will follow any guidance provided."

No air quality advisories have been issued in relation to the fire.