Tyre fires. A pile of pollution

The possible damaging effects of fires on the environment were shown no more clearly than during the two huge fires at scrap tyre dumps in Canada last year. The incidents at Hagersville, Ontario and Saint Amable, Quebec, led to major concerns about pollution of the atmosphere, soil and water courses. They also posed some severe problems for the fire fighters. The Hagersville fire confirmed that burning tyres are extremely difficult to extinguish and present serious pollution risks. The strategy of working from the perimeter and digging methodically into the piles of tyres after the heat and flames diminished, using controlled amounts of water and foam to complete extinguishment, appeared to be the most acceptable for this site.