Large tire fire burning in Maricopa

A large tire fire is burning at the Arizona Rubber Recycling Center, located off the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway, as of approximately 10 o’clock tonight.

Fire crews are on scene with Karey Environmental Services and Pinal County Air Quality Control.

Fire investigators report that the tire pile covers about 10,000 square feet and is fully involved.  Fire fighting crews are protecting the area and have contained the fire to the pile. Karey Environmental Services is actively working on “capping” the fire with soil.

Tire fires are extremely hazardous due to the petroleum products in the tires; as they burn, they release known cancer-causing particulates.  Fire fighters do not use water on these fires to help prevent oil released from the burning tires from contaminating ground water.

There are no current life hazards to residents of the city. Pinal County Air Quality Control is actively monitoring the air.  Any hazards found will be reported and residents notified.

AZ Rubber Recycling is the same site as another large tire fire that occurred in 2007. That fire burned for one week and sent a column of smoke 25,000 feet in the air.

More details will be provided as they become available.

Photo by Howard Waggner/ Maricopa Fire Department