Galena Landfill Fire Extinguished After Weeks of Smoldering
The fire at the Galena Landfill in southeast Kansas is out. Operator Jordan Disposal completed excavation work that eliminated all heat and smoldering detected during a Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) inspection on June 24, 2026, according to KDHE spokeswoman Jill Bronaugh.
Excavators dug laterally and vertically into areas generating heat until no further signs of combustion were found. The fire had been smoldering for weeks to months before that work concluded.
Soil Cover Requirement Still Unfinished
Jordan Disposal has not yet met all of KDHE’s post-fire requirements. The agency asked the company to place one foot of soil cover over the excavated area after the June inspection. Jordan Disposal was unable to complete that step because re-grading the site took longer than expected.
KDHE has asked Jordan Disposal to submit a progress update and request a formal extension to July 17, 2026, for completing the soil cover. As of the publication of the Kansas Reflector article, that work remained pending.
Air Monitor Failures Leave a Data Gap
Galena residents are not getting consistent data on hydrogen sulfide levels in the air. Hydrogen sulfide is a gas produced by decaying landfill material that regulators monitor to protect public health. The city of Galena contracted an air monitor, but the device has experienced repeated battery failures.
“An issue we’re running into is the monitor that the city has is a 24-hour monitor, and it has been down a lot.”
Ashley Wells, Galena resident and community group leader, July 2026
The monitor was offline from approximately 1 p.m. On June 27 until 9 a.m. On July 3. The public-facing website that displays the monitoring data stopped posting readings on July 3 and had not resumed as of the date of reporting. Galena Public Works Superintendent Josh Reed said solar panels were installed to address the battery issue and he believed the problem had been resolved, but the data gap on the website remained.
Property Values and Quality of Life
Residents near the landfill report that the persistent odors are affecting daily life and home values. Ashley Wells, who leads a local citizen group tracking the landfill’s environmental impact, said she and her husband have discussed selling their home but doubt anyone will buy it. A neighbor reportedly lost a buyer who withdrew after learning about the landfill situation.
What You Can Do Now
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Contact KDHE directly at (785) 296-1500 and ask what enforcement steps are in place if Jordan Disposal misses the July 17 soil cover deadline. Ask for public notification if the deadline is extended again.
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Contact Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s office at (785) 296-3232 and ask her administration to require a continuous, publicly accessible air monitor in Galena with a guaranteed uptime standard written into Jordan Disposal’s compliance order.
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Reach out to the Cherokee County Commission (the county where Galena is located) and ask commissioners to hold a public meeting on the landfill’s environmental compliance record. Find contact information at the Cherokee County website.
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Ask your Kansas state legislators to support stronger landfill monitoring requirements statewide. Find your legislators at kslegislature.org.
Sources
Kansas Reflector: Galena Landfill Fire Extinguished, Cleanup and Monitoring Issues Continue
Kansas Department of Health and Environment: Solid Waste Program Overview and Compliance
EPA: Hydrogen Sulfide Health Effects and Landfill Gas Monitoring Guidelines