On May 26th, 2009 at 00:47 hours, the Hawkins VFD and Hawkins Fire Marshalls Office responded to a tire fire at Foster & Son Scrap Tire Processor in Hawkins, Texas. A stockpile of approximately 100,000 tires burned to create a fire over an area of roughly 300 x 500 feet. The scene of the fire was a 5 acre area where Foster & Son staged an estimated 700,000 tires. The cause of the fire was undetermined at the time of initial action. Initial responders sucessfully contained the fire by moving staged tires to create a 200 foot open area buffer around the burning area.
The NRC activated EPA Region 6 Prevention and Response Branch at 0252 hours on May 26th, 2009. TCEQ, EPA, and the agencies' respective contractors arrived on scene between 0600 1000 hours. The Town of Hawkins issued a mandatory evacuation for all residents. Northwesterly winds at 8-10 mph allowed the smoke plume to rise several hundred feet before breaching the subject property perimeter. The plume was visible from roughly ten miles away between 0600 and 1100 hours. TCEQ, EPA, and Hawkins VFD entered into unified command at 0900.
During the day on 27 May 2009, TCEQ contractors continued firefirghting and tire pile separation activities. Four track hoes, one bulldozer and apporximately 19 responders used AFFF (foam) and water to extinguish the fire and pull the remnants of the tire pile apart.
Water monitors were used to cool the separated parts of the pile and to prevent flare ups. Firefighting water runoff was contained in the earthern trench on the southeast side of the pile. Efforts were made to keep this water contained in the trench.
Water was trucked in by local volunteer fire departments and TCEQ subcontractors to ensure that adequate volume of water was available to complete the firefighting activities. This water was taken from the Sabine River south of the site and transported to holding frac tanks on-site.
EPA representatives completed particulate air monitoring in Hawkins and at the command post. An analysis of the data shows that particulate levels were not elevated above what is condisered normal. EPA also demobilized the Region 6 Mobile Command Post.
Operations ceased for the period at 2100 hours on 27 May, no nighttime operations were conducted. A fire watch was in place to notify Eagle of any flare ups during the overnight hours of 27-28 May.
TCEQ contractors will continue to make every attempt to reclaim used firefighting water in a trench along the southern side of the fire, wind direction permitting.
Completion of firefighting acivities. Completion of destruction of tire piles. Monitoring of the fire situation to ensure there are no flare ups.
Reclaim used firefighting water utilizing the trench and berm along the southern side of the site.
Continue pile separation to mitigate chance of flare up and complete response operations.
Continued observation of tires for fire suppression.
Runoff water containment and disposition.
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