US Tyre Recycling Plant Damaged by Fire

A tyre recycling facility in the US state of Florida has been damaged by fire – the fourth fire at the plant in the three years it has been in operation. It is thought that an electrical short circuit occurring in a lamppost may have caused a 2,000 square metre, eight-metre high pile of tyres to ignite at the RMD Americas plant in Cocoa. Flames from the resultant blaze reached more than 30 metres in height and sent thick black clouds of smoke over neighbouring areas.

The January 17 fire burned for several hours, and while spectacular to witness, no injuries were reported. The facility has been designed to prevent runoff from escaping the site, therefore it is unlikely that any substances released during the fire will contaminate surrounding areas.