Amarillo landfill superintendent fired after Stinky Fire destroys 52 homes
AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — The City of Amarillo’s landfill superintendent is no longer employed by the city after a state investigation found the landfill was not properly covering trash weeks before the Stinky Fire escaped the landfill and destroyed 52 homes.
City Manager Grayson Path announced the personnel action Friday, one day after ABC 7 News reported the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality found the city landfill was in violation of state rules requiring daily cover of deposited waste.
“I have had the opportunity to review the materials associated with the compliance investigation conducted by TCEQ on or about April 30, 2026, and supporting documentation related to City landfill operations,” Path said in a statement.
“As a result of my review and discussions with my executive team, the landfill superintendent is no longer employed by the City,” Path said. “This development does not end my inquiry into this matter.”
The Stinky Fire rekindled and escaped the landfill, burning 2,335 acres, destroying 52 homes and damaging 25 more, officials said during a Wednesday news conference. Numerous homes were saved by firefighters, according to the Amarillo Area Office of Emergency Management.
TCEQ records reviewed by ABC 7 News show a complaint was filed April 30 alleging the landfill was “improperly covering deposited waste.” On May 7, TCEQ found the landfill violated Texas Administrative Code rules requiring Type I landfills to apply 6 inches of well-compacted earthen material at the end of each operating day to control disease vectors, fires, odors, windblown litter and scavenging.
TCEQ issued a notice of violation May 20, three days after the fire started.
Path previously said he was not aware of the compliance concern before the fire or before the violation was issued.
“Given what our community has just experienced, this is deeply concerning to me,” Path said Thursday. “Prior to the fire on Sunday, and prior to the notice of violation being issued, I was not aware that there might be a compliance concern of this kind at the landfill.”
Path said the city will continue working with TCEQ and will mobilize available resources to cover exposed trash, operate the landfill responsibly and add real-time monitoring of landfill conditions by executive staff.
“All the while, we will continue to strive to correct any other deficiencies relating to landfill operations and will implement all available measures to reinforce our commitment to safety and compliance,” Path said.
Assistant City Manager Donny Hooper said Wednesday the city brought in Hazmat Specialties LLC, a company that specializes in landfill fires. Crews also used drones to search for hot spots and brought in equipment capable of holding tens of thousands of gallons of water.
Hooper said officials may never know the exact cause of the fire.
“I don’t know that we’ll ever have an exact cause,” Hooper said. “There’s no way to pinpoint a single item.”
Path said his review of landfill operations is ongoing.