In an update on Sunday, the state government had said that the fire was under control and would be extinguished soon. Fires are often reported at massive landfills in many parts of India, mostly because of the methane generated as the waste decomposes. The Brahmapuram waste plant, located near the edge of Kochi city, is known for the massive mounds of waste on its premises. The plant is owned and operated by Kochi city authorities.