U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Integrated Waste Management Tire Fire

Thumbnails | List View | Photo Log

Images

All Images [226]
Categories
<<  <  1 2 3 4 5  ...  >  >> 
Side road entrance off of Rt. 385 that leads to the access road to the site.<br />Date Taken: 3/19/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
Access road to the site from the side road off of Rt. 385.<br />Date Taken: 3/19/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
Sign posted on the front gate of the access road leading to the site.<br />Date Taken: 3/19/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
Side road off of Rt. 385 looking east. Entrance to the Waste Management landfill is at the top left of photo.<br />Date Taken: 3/19/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
Natural culvert coming down from the site.<br />Date Taken: 3/19/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
Culvert leading from site, across side road going towards Caribbean. This culvert connects run-off from the site to a navigable waterway.<br />Date Taken: 3/19/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
View looking south at shredded tire piles. Oil- soaked soil from 2008 fire is at bottom of photo.<br />Date Taken: 3/18/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
View of man-made trench and chimney on top of smoldering tire file.<br />Date Taken: 3/18/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
Ground lever view of smoldering tire pile showing area where soil sloughed-off.<br />Date Taken: 3/18/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
Pile of shredded tires and oil-soaked soil generated from 2008 tire fire.<br />Date Taken: 3/18/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
Fissure opening on top of smoldering tire pile showing pyrolytic oil condensed from the smoke being emitted.<br />Date Taken: 3/18/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
One of two piles of shredded tires.<br />Date Taken: 3/18/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
View of top of smoldering tire pile showing fissures. Caribbean Ocean is in background.<br />Date Taken: 3/18/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
Another view of one of the piles of shredded tires.<br />Date Taken: 3/18/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
Man-made trench creating natural chimney on top of smoldering tire pile.<br />Date Taken: 3/18/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
View looking east at both piles of shredded tires. Smoldering pile of tires is to the left of the photo.<br />Date Taken: 3/18/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
Smoke emitted from fissure on top of pile of smoldering tires. This is a man-made vent on the top of the pile which created a chimney to vent gases and smoke.<br />Date Taken: 3/18/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
Second of two piles of shredded tires.<br />Date Taken: 3/18/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
View of water collection device positioned between two concrete pads.<br />Date Taken: 3/18/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:
Pile of shredded tires in foreground, pile of smoldering tires covered with dirt is in center of photo.<br />Date Taken: 3/18/2014<br />Category: Site Photo<br />Latitude: <br />Longitude: <br />Tags:

Side road entrance off of Rt. 385 that leads to the access road to the site. Access road to the site from the side road off of Rt. 385. Sign posted on the front gate of the access road leading to the site. Side road off of Rt. 385 looking east. Entrance to the Waste Management landfill is at the top left of photo. Natural culvert coming down from the site. Culvert leading from site, across side road going towards Caribbean. This culvert connects run-off from the site to a navigable waterway. View looking south at shredded tire piles. Oil- soaked soil from 2008 fire is at bottom of photo. View of man-made trench and chimney on top of smoldering tire file. Ground lever view of smoldering tire pile showing area where soil sloughed-off. Pile of shredded tires and oil-soaked soil generated from 2008 tire fire. Fissure opening on top of smoldering tire pile showing pyrolytic oil condensed from the smoke being emitted. One of two piles of shredded tires. View of top of smoldering tire pile showing fissures. Caribbean Ocean is in background. Another view of one of the piles of shredded tires. Man-made trench creating natural chimney on top of smoldering tire pile. View looking east at both piles of shredded tires. Smoldering pile of tires is to the left of the photo. Smoke emitted from fissure on top of pile of smoldering tires. This is a man-made vent on the top of the pile which created a chimney to vent gases and smoke. Second of two piles of shredded tires. View of water collection device positioned between two concrete pads. Pile of shredded tires in foreground, pile of smoldering tires covered with dirt is in center of photo. Other end of water collection device. Run-off water collection pit at base of smoldering tire pile. Pile of shredded tires. Base of smoldering pile of tires is visible in upper left. ERT contractor setting up area RAEs. ERT setting up air monitoring equipment. Area of top of tire pile showing the beginnings of soil subsidence. Second area RAE positioned close to smoldering tire pile. One of 4 Area RAEs deployed with wireless transmitter to VIPER network. Pile of smoldering tires showing area of cover that subsided from pile. Pile of smoldering tires showing where dirt cover slid off pile, creating a crevice. Newly exposed soil where dirt has sloughed off pile. Oil soaked soil at base of pile of smoldering tires. Top of smoldering tire pile showing where the edge of the pile has fallen away. Top of pile showing condensed pyrolytic oil covering dirt. Trench on top of pile showing SUMA canister and data RAM on left taking air samples. Scat from horses being ridden on site. View looking south of air sampling devices set up on top of smoldering tire pile. Caribbean is in background to right. ERT tech setting up air monitoring/sampling station above and to the north of the smoldering tire pile. Air monitoring/sampling station directly in smoke plume on top of smoldering tire pile. Hoof prints of horses being ridden in the mud on the site. Aeerial image of Site when in full operation in 2006. Scrap tire piles are in upper right and center, upper left. Tire shredder is on right between dark pile and mound of dirt. Curtesy of M. Hoppe, USEPA. Thermograph of opening inside trench on top of smoldering tire pile. Temperature is 302F at hotest point. Thermograph of side of pile of smoldering tires where earth has subsided. This shows a hot spot inside the pile where the temperature is at least 114F. Additional hot spots can be seen in upper left towards top of pile. Other hot areas most likely some radient heat from inside, but also reflected heat from direct sun. Additional subsidance on south side of pile. Note additional perforations (dark spots) into pile in center of photo New openings in south face of pile, dark spots in center and left. New fissures forming on east face of pile. Top of pile showing depressions created by void space underneath. Area on top of pile that is sinking due to void space underneath. Darker oil stains on top of pile. Widening fissures on top of pile, view facing south west. New fissure on east face of pile. Close up of new fissure on east face of pile. Note depositions of sulphur. View of canopy shelter set up by ERRS, view looking south. Close up of new holes in the south face of pile. D-8 dozer provided by PR Department of Natural Resources leveling area for office trailer. DPNR dozer clearing debris from Site. Existing access road widened and leveled by the DPNR. Thermograph of south face of pile showing three new hot spots at top of pile. Thermograph of northeast side (rear) of pile showing new hot spot on top left and four fissures on far left. Close up thermograph of south face of pile showing hot spot with temperatures ranging up to 116F. Image of same area 3 days ago had temperature readings up to 114F. View of south face of pile showing crevice in center growing wider and beginning to cave in on top. Face of pile on right shows more subsidence. Additonal soil discolorations and subsidence on south face of tire pile. Additional perforations (center) appearing. View from east of south face of tire pile showing deep perforations opening. Mixed visual/IR view of east side of the south face showing temperature range from 100F - 124F Mixed visual/IR image of east side of tire pile showing new crevice and temperature ranges up to 161F. Lunchtime entertainment at the Site. View of National Guard engineers working on Site, left and right in photo. Fire break cut by National Guard engineers behind pile of smoldering tires. Newly observed smoke being emitted from fissure on top of pile. Njational Guard loading dirt to be used for oil containment berm. No vis safety fence set near access road. National Guard medic area set up near Command Post Berm and containment around the smoldering tire pile Beginning of operations to remove smoldering tire pile Operations removing smoldering tire pile Removing smoldering material Excavator reducing the heat of the material by placing the excavator bucket in water PRFD personnel manning portable pools for water for firefighting. Fire department placing water on smoldering area to reduce heat and dust from the dirt Fire department cooling material removed from pile Fire department cooling smoldering pile as well as excavator bucket and hydrolic lines Removal operations Removal operations Removal operations Removal operations Removal operations Removal operations Staging area for material removed from smoldering pile Removal operations Removal operations Removal operations Removal operations Removal operations Large spherical shaped melted rubber objects Removal operations Removal operations Removal operations Removal operations Removal operations Removal operations Removal operations Removal operations Removal Operations Removal operations Removal operations Removal ops Removal ops Removal ops Removal ops Removal ops Burning tire material Thermo graph of excavator perched over hot spot on smoldering tire pile. Arm with bucket is seen loading dump truck. Thermograph of dump truck with load of hot material from soil pile. Thermograph of dump truck unloading soil from burning tire pile onto waste staging area. Bed of truck is seen in vertical position. Hot waste from smoldering tire pile being spread by dozer on waste storage area. Thermorgraph of dump truck (facing down) dropping load of hot waste from tire fire pile. Raised truck be is in center of image. Dozer waits at left to begin spreading waste. Thermograph of fire dept. putting water spray into hot area of exposed smoldering tire pile. Fire water inside excavated area. What was thought to be pyrolytic oil is apparently fine carbon dust on the surface of the water. Small quantities of PO may be on the surface as well. Excavator hitting pocket of smoke. Dumping excavated soil/burned tire debris onto waste staging area. Dozer spreading excavated waste in staging area. Material is approx. 150F at this point in the process. Large piece of fused carbon and metal from radial tire belts. Excavator operator point of view looking north at interior face wall of burnt/smoldering tire remains. Excavator staged on temporary road where excavation is occurring. Excavator will move to the left along the road to dig-out material. Operator is waiting for the dump truck to position itself under the bucket. PRFD playing cooling water onto heated areas of excavated pile. Beginning of work day, excavating resumes. Excavator clearing combustible brush from area where additional excavated matererial will be stockpiled. Both excavators working the tire pile from different angles. Material coming from the upper excavation. PRFD shooting water from 2 1/2 inch line to cool excavator and wet down smoldering mass. Multicolored soil/debris excavated from upper area of tire pile. Excavator on right hits pocket of hot ash. Excavator against background. Excavator on top digging at tire pile. What appears to be pyrolytic oil is actually extremely finely divided carbon black, used to make tires. Excavator pulling tire debris from back wall of lower excavation. Angle-on view of excavator pulling hot smoldering tire remains from pile. Fire ignited in excavation area as tire pile was ripped open. Excavator is engulfed in smoke, steam and ash during ripping process. Excavator operator using recycled water (behind boom on right) to make a slurry in the bottom of the excavated hole. This cools the wires and reduces PM emissions. More fires ignite as debris from the pile is exposed to air. Temperatures inside the pile are still in excess of 300F. Fire ignited when excavator ripped open the pile. Dozer on hillside clearing road to get access for air monitoring station. Outcroping of tire debris and burnt material. Excavator pulling hot wire and debris into water to cool waste. Cloud of ash rises from excavation. Note water spray on right and water truck in center filling up sump pool. Close up of water spray knocking down fine particulate ash plume. Fine ash plume rising on steam and hot air currents. Efforts to knock down ash was only partially successful. Excavator working inside the pit pulling hot material into the water. Two excavators working the pile. The one on the Second Tier pushes hot debris down to the lower excavator which cools the debris prior to loading onto truck. View of excavators working in tandem. Tons of ash being pushed into water to cool debris. Note steam rising from clumps of wire/rubber in water. Hot clump of wire/rubber boiling the water around it. Another clump of hot wire/rubber boiling the surrounding water. Excavated waste pile at the end of the day. Excavated down to natural rock. Blackened area to right is tires and wires. Right side of excavation showing ash deposits and water from sump on other side of berm. Thermal image of north side of pit. Spot temperature is 176F. Thermal image of right side of excavation. Temperature is much lower on this side... 103F. Thermal fusion image showing left side of excavation and much lower temperatures as indicated on the temperature scale on right. Thermal image of pit facing excavator showing temperature ranging up to 137F... 122F at base of excavator. Thermal image of waste material from the pit being dumped onto the waste pile. Spot temperature was <95F. Excavator working north wall of pit. View of west wall of pit showing mostly rock and dirt. View of east side of pit showing contaminated soil which will be removed. View looking south from pit showing excavators working in tandem to remove contaminated material. View of north side of the pit showing a seam of smoldering tire material. This is the last section of the pile that will be excavated. Excavator pulling fine ash from the north side of the pit. Excavator ripping carbon-black ash from pit. Off road truck dumping excavated waste from pit. Dozer spreading excavated waste from pit on top of second pile of waste. View of excavated area after all smoldering rubber and debris has been removed. Small area with tire debris. Areas on the east side of pit with burnt tire debris in lower right in shadow. Small area in east side ot pit (center) showing a layer of burnt tire material. View of area where majority of the smoldering tires was located. Waste stockpile consisting of wire from tire bands, burnt rubber and carbon black. Tons of tire wires, soil and carbon black Close up view of tire wires expanding from rebound after being excavated from pile. Close up of excavated material from tire pile. Area on site where backfill will be placed then covered with fresh soil. Loading excavated waste into truck to move to back-fill area. Dumping waste into back-fill area. Back-fill dumped and waiting to be spread. View of back-fill area as seen from top of excavated waste pile. Image of powdery deposit of limestone, typical to this area and Puerto Rico. This material was dumped onto the tire fire in 2008 and is responsible for much of the dust generated during excavation. View from top of waste pile showing location of former tire fire pile. Excavator is pulling down the run-off berm. View from top of waste pile at excavator. View of excavator on top of waste pile, taken from ground level. View of excavator tearing down berm around the former tire fire pile. Smallexcavator pushing former tire fire pile into pit where the excavator will place it. Moving waste pile from right side to far left. View of stockpiled tire fire material. This material hardened to a cementacious material from the calcium in the soil mixing with fire-fighting water. Dump truck and dozer spreading back-fill at the Site. View looking east at area where containment berm was located around the tire pile. Dozer spreading back-fill at Site. Site sign. Backfilling from right to left as of 4/26/14 . For scale, note D-5 dozer behind dump truck. Fused material excavated from tire pile mound. View looking northeast at remains of tire pile mound. Excavator ripping out containment berm and pulling up poly liner. Newspaper photo of PRFD attacking IWM tire fire in August, 2008. Newspaper photo of IWM tire fire in 2008. Ground level view of waste pile slowly being relocated to back-fill area. Close-up of area being dug-up for backfill. Note different strata of material that was removed from tire fire pile. View of area where containment berm was located. Elevated view of area where containment berm was located. View of excavated material backfilled into new location View of excavated material backfilled into new location View of excavated material backfilled into new location View of excavated material backfilled into new location, installing cap material View of excavated material backfilled into new location, installing cap material Completed back fill, capped and graded area of excavated material from tire fire pile Completed backfilled and capped area of excavated material Completed backfilled and capped area of excavated material Crew grading area of former smoldering tire pile Completed area of former smoldering tire pile