Fire risk and emergency response at the Coffin Butte Landfill were raised repeatedly during public testimony and staff discussion on Oct. 22. County staff, applicant representatives and local fire officials described existing and proposed measures; several opponents said past reporting of fires was incomplete and that enforcement of conditions has been inconsistent.

Republic Services said it will maintain two 4,000‑gallon water trucks on site, adopt best‑practice fire management plans, and implement full‑time monitoring of the working face on high fire‑risk ("red flag") days. Company witnesses said the additional truck would be stationed at the active working face and used by trained on‑site employees for immediate suppression; they described coordination with Adair Rural Fire and Rescue for larger incidents. The applicant told the board that 8 fire responses to the site had been logged with Adair Fire since 2013 and that reported incidents have declined in recent years.

Opponents and at least one public commenter representing Soap Creek Valley Firewise raised concerns that Republic Services has underreported fires to DEQ and other agencies and that a small fire can spread rapidly under red‑flag conditions. Virginia Scott, a Soap Creek Valley Firewise co‑chair, told the board that the company provided a limited records request response that looked only at working face incidents and did not capture flaring, PRC (flare/PRC) events or other fire‑related emissions. She urged stronger after‑hours monitoring and staffing on red‑flag days and questioned whether the proposed $80,000 county monitoring payment would be sufficient to ensure enforcement.

Staff said proposed conditions include requirements for a fire mitigation plan, additional on‑site suppression capacity and limits on operations during high fire danger; they also emphasized the county’s ability to revoke land‑use approval if the applicant does not comply with conditions. Several commissioners asked for clearer commitments from the applicant on after‑hours monitoring and notification protocols for local fire districts.

The board paused public testimony near 10 p.m. and continued the hearing to Nov. 4 for further deliberation; no decision was made that night.