Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 21, 1990 TAG: 9005210151
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
The fire was reported around noon and could be seen as far away as Danville. Arson is suspected, according to Henry County Administrator C. Lee Lintecum.
Lintecum estimated that 100,000 tires are dumped at the 2-acre site located on Virginia 648 near Axton. About two-thirds of the pile is burning, he said.
No injuries have been reported, and Lintecum said there were no plans to evacuate nearby homes. The Piedmont Estates subdivision is less than a half-mile away.
Some 100 volunteer firefighters from Axton, Dyers Store, Fieldale, Collinsville, Martinsville and Bassett responded to the fire.
They made one attempt to put out the blaze with foam and water before deciding to let the fire burn itself out. Tires, a petroleum product, are nearly impossible to extinguish once they begin burning, firefighters said.
Firefighters will monitor the dump around the clock until the fire is out.
A fire line of dirt was created with bulldozers around the pile of tires to prevent the blaze from spreading, and several makeshift dikes were constructed to catch any toxic-waste runoff.
Lintecum said the fire could take several days or more to burn out.
The illegal dump operated until about a year ago when it was discovered by county officials.
But the tires have remained there pending action to have them removed by the Department of Waste Management.
by CNB