Burning Rubber

Massive tire fires have occurred around the world, often fueled by vast stockpiles of discarded tires.

One of the largest was the Rhinehart Tire Fire in Virginia (1983), where 7 million tires burned for nine months, releasing toxic smoke across four states and requiring a $12 million cleanup.

Similarly, the Everett Tire Fire in Washington (1984) involved 4 million tires and burned for over six months, causing significant air pollution.

In Canada, the Hagersville Tire Fire (1990) consumed 14 million tires in 17 days, forcing the evacuation of 4,000 residents and devastating the local environment.

These events highlight the environmental and health hazards posed by improper tire disposal and the challenges of managing such disasters.