Two decades ago I responded mutual aid to a landfill fire in Libscomb. July. About noon. We'd just finished lunch. Smoke sausage dogs with all the fixins. We were absolutely stuffed. I was one of two sent on an engine for mutual aid. Carried a half eaten hot dog with me enroute. Crested the hill and saw a black mushroom cloud in the distance. Tossed the rest of the dog out the window. Tossed the rest not too long after. We were on that site for more than 8 hours before relief was sent. The volunteers came and went. Other departments came and went. I won't say anything about the leadership back at my station that day. No need to speak ill of the dead. But when the Chief came in and realized we were not there, he loaded up and came to find us. Randy and I were absolutely spent. The materials under the ground were burning and opening up huge sink holes everywhere. One minute the ground was there, the next it wasn't. Apocalyptic is the best description I have of it. It was so hot that day, when we got on the engine to leave, the heat from our exhaust had melted the ashpalt and fused the brakes on the rear wheels. Had to have the engine towed to a shop for repairs. I'll never forget that fire. They'd been dumping building materials, roofing, tires, entire mobile homes into that landfill, illegally for decades. I don't begrudge the forestry or Moody fire on this. Human waste materials have to go somewhere. Once it lit up, it's gonna have to burn out and that may take months.