Tim Olk made the two-hour drive down to Hoopeston, IL, located just south of Chicago, to capture images of a massive fire raging through a huge tire recycling facility.
The fire broke out early Wednesday morning at the J&R Used Tire Service Inc., located at 103 Maple St. Scores of firefighters from both Vermilion and Iroquois counties have been battling the blaze ever since. Officials are concerned that the fire might burn for several days.
When firefighters arrived at the scene around 5:20 a.m., the southern part of the 400,000-square-foot brick building was already engulfed in flames. Hoopeston Fire Chief Cliff Crabtree described the situation as overwhelming, especially given the nature of the fire. "From the very beginning, it’s just been an overwhelming day," he said during a briefing around 11 a.m., adding that they were just starting to bring the fire under control.
Chief Crabtree explained that due to the type of fire it was—filled with tires—they had to adopt a defensive approach. Unfortunately, such circumstances often result in the loss of the entire building. About five employees of the business, owned by Rodney and Janie Rogers, were present when the fire began, but all managed to escape unharmed. One individual was taken to a local hospital for potential smoke inhalation but was released later that morning.
Rodney Rogers, whose brother Lance Smith spoke on his behalf, mentioned that he expected the firefighting efforts to last another 24 to 36 hours. Other officials echoed this sentiment, stating that tire fires can burn for several days.
In response to the fire, police evacuated homes and apartment buildings on Maple, Market, and Lincoln streets, along with parts of First, Second, and Third avenues, which are less than a mile west of the recycling facility. Residents were relocated to emergency shelters at Hoopeston Area High School and various local churches. The Danville Fire Department's hazardous materials team was also present, monitoring air quality.
Rodney Rogers spent much of Wednesday speaking with insurance representatives and planning a restart of his business, contingent upon approval from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Other recyclers have stepped forward to assist in keeping his business operational, which collects tires from nearly 1,000 clients across Illinois and Indiana.
Smoke from the fire could be seen as far as the Bismarck area, about 20 miles south, appearing like dark blue thunderclouds moving across the horizon. Nearby, the smell of burning rubber filled the air.
The fire was being tackled by departments from Hoopeston, East Lynn, Wellington, Bismarck, Rossville, Rankin, Potomac, Bluegrass, Danville, Milford, and Watseka, among others. Firefighters not only fought the flames but also transported water from the city, a local bottled-water company, Hoopeston Foods, East Lynn Fertilizer, and Crop Production Services. Area farmers even brought in water via semis to fill large portable tanks at various locations, ensuring a steady supply of water to the pumpers.
The Red Cross and others set up air-conditioned tents to prevent firefighters from succumbing to heat exhaustion. Chief Crabtree expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming community support, noting that phones were ringing nonstop with people eager to help. Volunteers delivered water and sandwiches to firefighters using golf carts so they wouldn't need to leave their posts.
Ted Fisher, director of the Vermilion County Emergency Management Agency, confirmed a voluntary evacuation order had been issued for residents near the fire. Lance Smith, speaking on behalf of the company, noted that J&R Used Tire Service is one of the largest scrap tire haulers and recyclers in the state, serving 800 customers in Illinois and Indiana. The business processes car, semi-truck, and tractor tires, separating rubber from metal and other materials, then shredding and granulating the rubber into playground surfaces and mulch, among other products. Semi tires are also used to make caution barrels for road construction.
Smith explained that employees noticed the fire shortly after 5 a.m. and immediately called 911, attempting to douse the flames with fire extinguishers and a hose connected to an on-site water tank. However, "it took off so quick," Smith said, unsure of the cause. "Water is not really effective for extinguishing rubber fires."
An elderly resident, Ted Fisher, who has lived in the area for 51 years, commented, "This is the worst fire I’ve seen in my life."
Additional photos taken by Tim Olk provide a closer look at the devastation caused by the blaze.
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