The Environmental Protection Agency is taking over extinguishment efforts for a landfill fire in Moody, Alabama, federal officials announced Thursday.
The landfill has been burning since Nov. 25, producing smoke that has sickened local residents.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday called a state of emergency due to the blaze.
“EPA’s first priority is to ensure the wellbeing of the residents. … The community wants to see action and are understandably concerned about the landfill fire’s impact on their health, safety and quality of life,” EPA Region 4 Administrator Daniel Blackman said in an announcement from the agency.