Tire fire
Encyclopedia
Tire fires, where tires are stored, dumped or processed, exist in two forms: as fast-burning events, leading to almost immediate loss of control, and as slow-burning pyrolysis
which can continue for over a decade. They are noted for being difficult to extinguish. Such fires produce a lot of smoke, which often carries toxic chemicals from the breakdown of rubber
compounds while burning. A single tire contains about the equivalent of 7.5 liters (two U.S. gallons) of oil
.
Tires are typically not prone to self-ignition as a tire must be heated to at least 400 °C for a period of several minutes prior to ignition. Therefore, tire fires are normally the result of arson
or improper manipulation with open fire. However, it is possible for tires to spontaneously combust, especially in the case of shredded tires or tire "crumbs". This is particularly the case where the material is stored greater than 3 meters (10 ft) in depth, but laboratory experiments have shown spontaneous combustion
occurring in piles as shallow as 1 m (3.3 ft) in depth.
Extinguishing tire fires is difficult. The fire releases a dark, thick smoke that contains carbon monoxide
, sulfur dioxide
, and products of butadiene and styrene. A specific danger is posed by dripping hot fluids (which may cause burns) and valves
shooting from the fire under pressure. Burning tires are heated and as they have a low thermal conductivity
, they are difficult to cool down. Moreover, they frequently burn inside even if they are extinguished from outside, and easily reignite when hot. One possibility is to cover the fire with soil, reducing the supply of oxygen and exhaust of the thick dark toxic smoke. After extinguishing and cooling down (which may last several days), the site must be surveyed and toxic chemicals neutralized.
Pyrolysis
Pyrolysis is a thermochemical decomposition of organic material at elevated temperatures without the participation of oxygen. It involves the simultaneous change of chemical composition and physical phase, and is irreversible...
which can continue for over a decade. They are noted for being difficult to extinguish. Such fires produce a lot of smoke, which often carries toxic chemicals from the breakdown of rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
compounds while burning. A single tire contains about the equivalent of 7.5 liters (two U.S. gallons) of oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
.
Tires are typically not prone to self-ignition as a tire must be heated to at least 400 °C for a period of several minutes prior to ignition. Therefore, tire fires are normally the result of arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
or improper manipulation with open fire. However, it is possible for tires to spontaneously combust, especially in the case of shredded tires or tire "crumbs". This is particularly the case where the material is stored greater than 3 meters (10 ft) in depth, but laboratory experiments have shown spontaneous combustion
Spontaneous combustion
Spontaneous combustion is the self-ignition of a mass, for example, a pile of oily rags. Allegedly, humans can also ignite and burn without an obvious cause; this phenomenon is known as spontaneous human combustion....
occurring in piles as shallow as 1 m (3.3 ft) in depth.
Extinguishing tire fires is difficult. The fire releases a dark, thick smoke that contains carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide , also called carbonous oxide, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly lighter than air. It is highly toxic to humans and animals in higher quantities, although it is also produced in normal animal metabolism in low quantities, and is thought to have some normal...
, sulfur dioxide
Sulfur dioxide
Sulfur dioxide is the chemical compound with the formula . It is released by volcanoes and in various industrial processes. Since coal and petroleum often contain sulfur compounds, their combustion generates sulfur dioxide unless the sulfur compounds are removed before burning the fuel...
, and products of butadiene and styrene. A specific danger is posed by dripping hot fluids (which may cause burns) and valves
Schrader valve
The Schrader valve is a brand of pneumatic tire valve used on virtually every motor vehicle in the world today. The Schrader company, for which it was named, was founded in 1844 by August Schrader...
shooting from the fire under pressure. Burning tires are heated and as they have a low thermal conductivity
Thermal conductivity
In physics, thermal conductivity, k, is the property of a material's ability to conduct heat. It appears primarily in Fourier's Law for heat conduction....
, they are difficult to cool down. Moreover, they frequently burn inside even if they are extinguished from outside, and easily reignite when hot. One possibility is to cover the fire with soil, reducing the supply of oxygen and exhaust of the thick dark toxic smoke. After extinguishing and cooling down (which may last several days), the site must be surveyed and toxic chemicals neutralized.
Notable tire fires
Some notable tire fires include:- 1983 – Seven million tires burn in Winchester, VirginiaWinchester, VirginiaWinchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
for nine months, polluting nearby areas with leadLeadLead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
and arsenicArsenicArsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As, atomic number 33 and relative atomic mass 74.92. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in conjunction with sulfur and metals, and also as a pure elemental crystal. It was first documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250.Arsenic is a metalloid...
. The location was cleaned up as a SuperfundSuperfundSuperfund is the common name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 , a United States federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances...
project from 1983 to 2002. - 1984 – A pile estimated at four million tires, known locally as Mount Firestone, ignited in Everett, WashingtonEverett, WashingtonEverett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
and burned for months as the fire department was unable to extinguish it. - 1989 – In Heyope (near Knighton, PowysPowysPowys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, WalesWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
) a fire involved approximately 10 million tires burnt for at least 15 years. - 1990 – In Hagersville, OntarioHagersville, OntarioHagersville is a community in Haldimand County, Ontario which gained international notoriety in 1990 for a gigantic uncontrolled tire fire which spewed toxic smoke for seventeen days...
, a fire started in a 12 to 14 million tire pile. It burned for 17 days and nearly forced 4,000 people to evacuate. - 1998 – A grass fire ignited the 7 million tires at the unlicensed S.F. Royster Tire Disposal Facility in Tracy, CaliforniaTracy, CaliforniaTracy is the second most populated city in San Joaquin County, California, United States and an exurb of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 82,922 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. It was extinguished, after 26 months, with water and foam in December, 2000. - 1999 – On August 21, arsonists ignited the former Kirby Tire Recycling facility, containing an estimate 25 million tires located on 110 acre (0.4451546 km²) near Sycamore, OhioSycamore, OhioSycamore is a village in Wyandot County, Ohio, United States. The population was 914 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sycamore is located at ....
. The fire burned for 30 hours, involved over 250 firefighters, the Ohio National GuardOhio National GuardThe Ohio National Guard comprises:* Ohio Army National Guard* Ohio Air National Guard-External links:* compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History...
and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and caused significant environmental damage. The fire was controlled and finally extinguished in part by covering it with dirt. In the intervening years the EPA has performed a massive clean up effort on the site. - 1999 – LightningLightningLightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
struck a tire dump in Westley, CaliforniaWestley, CaliforniaWestley is a census-designated place in Stanislaus County, California, United States. The population was 603 at the 2010 census, down from 747 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, which burned for 30 days. Pyrolitic oil flowed into a nearby stream and also ignited.