Overview: On February 24, 2017, at approximately 1449 hours, Randolph County Emergency Management Agency request EPA assistance at a tire fire incident. The fire at the Covanta Environmental Facility, located at 2242 Carl Drive, Asheboro, North Carolina, started at approximately 1230 hours when an industrial tire shredder caught fire and ignited two large piles of unvulcanized rubber tire byproduct. The facility is adjacent to residential neighborhoods and an unnamed tributary of the Hasketts Creek. The fire department and emergency management agencies have not implemented mandatory evacuations at this time; however, some residents have voluntarily evacuated. The unnamed tributary has been impacted by the firefighting runoff water and other products of tire combustion. At the time of this report, the fire has not been completely extinguished. No injuries or fatalities have been reported at this time.
State, Local and other Federal Agency Actions: The local fire departments responded and began extinguishment operations. The local fire department has deployed absorbent booms in the unnamed tributary. North Carolina Regional Hazardous Material Response Team responded to assist the local fire departments. State and County Emergency Management Officials are on scene.
EPA Actions: On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) Brian Englert, Regional Readiness Center (RRC) Contractors and Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) Contractors were deploy to the Incident Command Post. A Natural Resources Trustee consult was held with the Region 4 Department of Interior Representative and with the local US Fish and Wildlife Representative. Threatened and endangered species in the area of the spill will be identified and communicated to the OSC. Notifications have been made to North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Health. There are currently no impacts to surface water drinking intakes; however, drinking water impacts will be continually assessed throughout the duration of the incident. OSC Englert will integrate into Unified Command and provide technical assistance. START and RRC contractors will conduct residential air monitoring, surface water impact assessments and other operations as requested by Unified Command.
