this post was submitted on 14 Sep 2025
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[–] pixxelkick@lemmy.world 41 points 1 day ago (4 children)

The incident was caused when smoke was pushed in the wrong direction because of negative pressure, according to Assistant City Administrator Kevin Iffland.

That sounds like it wasn't a method specific issue, and if anything had been burnt in that incinerator it would've caused the same issue.

Sounds like the facility wasn't setup right, any facility with an incinerator should definitely have positive pressure, not negative.

[–] alekwithak@lemmy.world 21 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

So we're blaming the facility that has never had any issues incinerating previous to this event, rather than the FBI for their clear incompetence? And y'all are not only buying but upvoting it, too? Okay.

[–] pixxelkick@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (2 children)

rather than the FBI for their clear incompetence?

The article has not stated who was responsible for operation of the facility.

It's more likely the responsibility was on the staff to ensure the equipment at their own facility was functioning right

This sort of error should have been covered by prior operation licensing checks, a facility with an incinerator on premises shouldn't have negative pressure issues

So something somehow caused a negative pressure issue.

Usually the culprit is some kind of exhaust fan being run, or a door being left open too long

Based on time of year and how hot out it is, I wonder if a staff member left a door propped open or something.

Incinerator systems need positive pressure overall.

Anyone who lives in the north and has a gas based furnace heating system knows how deadly negative air pressure can be...

[–] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 4 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

It's more likely the responsibility was on the staff to ensure the equipment at their own facility was functioning right

What makes that the more likely scenario? It seems to me the more likely scenario is that the FBI is responsible for this considering, as far as we know, this facility has never had this issue until the FBI showed up to commandeer their incinerator.

I can just picture some dick swinging Kash Patel sycophant demanding control over the incinerator since they were handling controlled substances. Its just like the L.A. police who raided a medical imaging facility looking for drugs, had their rifles sucked into an MRI machine, and then destroyed it by hitting the emergency stop button. Police always think they know best in all situations.

[–] pixxelkick@lemmy.world 1 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

What makes that the more likely scenario?

Because it's their facility

this facility has never had this issue until the FBI showed up to commandeer their incinerator.

Says who?

For all we know they've had issues everytime they incinerate but they ignored it cuz a lil bit of smoke from 1 cat is way easier to shrug off compared to a huge amount of meth

It's very possible they just have been ignoring the problem because normal smoke from incineration a very small cadaver isn't a big deal, whereas meth fumes are extremely toxic and not something you can just shrug off

Lord knows I've worked with workers who have the "I've been doing it this way for 10 years and never had an issue, don't be a pussy" type of attitude too

So hard to say, without more info it's basically just us speculating.

[–] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 1 points 18 hours ago

So hard to say, without more info it's basically just us speculating.

I can agree with this. Either one of our "most likely scenarios" is just speculation.

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

But they need to feed their lazy outrage addiction

[–] douglasg14b@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Damnnnnnn critical thinking really is dead.

The universe around us isn't black and white. Have you considered that two things could be wrong instead of one? 😲

Generally though, a facility that operates in a particular manner that is used in the manner in which it is supposed to operate and it fails to operate in the expected manner. That's a facility problem.

Human error included.

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 13 points 1 day ago (3 children)

.... Why are they incinerating there in the first place though. I would figure that government entities would have procedures on confiscating, labeling, storing, and disposing of evidence in a safe manner. Not just throw it in the local animal shelters incinerator lol.

[–] Fondots@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago

I know that when police in my area need to destroy evidence that's no longer needed (and can't just be disposed of in normal waste streams, or sold or what have you) they normally take it to a local garbage incineration plant.

There was also a steel mill in the area at one point and their furnace was occasionally been put to use for similar purposes (tangential - there was at least one instance I've heard of where the US mint used that furnace to dispose of a batch of coins they were testing a new alloy or process or something on)

[–] dantheclamman@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago

Maybe in the area of Montana they were limited in choices, thought this place would do, but did not do a test run to ensure ventilation, leading to terrible results. Perhaps the unit was seldom used and poorly maintained (the fact that there were kittens in the same room as the incinerator seems crazy to me)

[–] pixxelkick@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Read the article:

The incinerator is usually used by animal control officers to dispose of euthanised animals, but local authorities said it can also be used by law enforcement to burn seized narcotics.

[–] rc__buggy@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Naw, someone failed procedure and didn't turn on one or more fans. They probably should have told the director, she could have turned the fan on.

[–] douglasg14b@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Which is both an incompetence and a facility problem in this case.

Systems like fans when an incinerator is active shouldn't rely on a human to flip switch. This should be automatic or there should be a lockout system that prevents the incinerator from operating if certain conditions are not first met.

[–] rc__buggy@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

Maybe, I'm not sure how the things work. It's entirely possible that it uses 150% more energy due to heat loss when the exhaust is on so there's a procedure in place to pre-heat without ventilation and then use the fan for each incineration, returning to an idle state in between each.

[–] dantheclamman@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

Yes, it just seems like a comedy of errors here, unfortunately the animals and staff suffered the price

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 11 points 1 day ago

Absolutely, but it seems to me like the FBI should be covering all.expenses here. They fuck up, and we have to cover the bill.

[–] Proprietary_Blend@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Anytime the abbreviation or acronym includes the word, "Federal", you can be sure it was done incorrectly and at the greatest expense to the taxpayer.

[–] pivot_root@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

During this admin, no doubt about it. Previous ones at least had competent leadership that were hired for their expertise instead of loyalty, however.

[–] prettybunnys@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago

loooooottttaaaaa people still in the government trying to do some good, it’s a shame the admin is making them look bad.

the admin of course is not trying to do any good and is going to ruin anything they can