1.1.1 Incident Category

Tire Fire 

1.1.2 Site Description

On April 8, 2016 a tire fire broke out at the Tire Depot located near Pablo, MT. The facility stores both whole and shredded used automobile tires. EPA responded 15 years ago to a similar event at this facility with roughly 6 million tires involved in that fire. Local Office of Emergency Management (OEM) reports that this fire is as large or larger than the previous one.

1.1.2.1 Location

The facility is located in Lake County, Montana within the reservation boundaries of the Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation. The Flathead Reservation borders Lake and Sanders counties and is near the towns of Pablo and Ronan.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Black smoke is impacting neighboring communities as well as traffic on Highway 93 which runs just to the east of the Site.

2.1.1 Narrative

 The fire was reported to local officials at 05:35 local time. Both the Salish and Kootenai tribes and the Lake County OEM have requested assistance from EPA.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

Crews from Pablo, Polson, Ronan, and Finley Point fire departments, as well as the Polson rural fire department, have been notified. Several of these local agencies are on-scene.

2.1.3 Progress Metrics

Local officials reported that 4 hours after the fire was reported, approximately ¼ of the fire was covered.  If this progress continues, local officials hope the fire can be extinguished by late tonight, in which case it is likely EPA will downgrade its response.

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

Fire fighting efforts will continue.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

The responding agencies plan to investigate hot spots for further response and conduct air monitoring as needed.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

EPA's On Scene Coordinator will further assess the situation once he arrives and provide support as needed..

2.2.2 Issues

2.5.1 Safety Officer

Health and safety is being managed by local authorities.  No issues to report.

2.5.2 Liaison Officer

Local authorities are on the scene.

2.5.3 Information Officer

Local authorities are on the scene.  EPA has an Information Officer en route and an Information Officer is providing support in the Region 8 Emergency Operations Center (REOC).

3.1 Unified Command

Local authorities are on the scene and have established a Unified Command.  EPA will join the Command once the On Scene Coordinator arrives.

3.2 Cooperating Agencies

Crews from Pablo, Polson, Ronan, and Finley Point fire departments, as well as the Polson rural fire department have been notified. Several of these local agencies are already on-scene.

ERRS: Emergency and Rapid Response Services contractor

REOC: Region 8 Emergency Operations Center

START Superfund technical Assistance and Response Team contractor

6.1 Internet location of additional information/report

 www.epaosc.org/PabloTireFire

6.2 Reporting Schedule

The next Situation report will be distributed once EPA's Response Team is on site and has assessed the situation.