Starlight Lane Tire Fire, Roanoke County, VA.
Call EPA's Community Involvement HOTLINE: 540-772-0542
Visit EPA's Site Community Involvement Trailer:
6657 Merriman Road
Roanoke, VA 24018
(Next to the Merriman Soccer Complex)
STATUS:
Update June 20, 2002
*EPA Completes Removal Action at Tire Fire that consumed 100 acres of land. Starlight Lane Tire Fire, Roanoke, VA - This week, EPA will complete removal actions at the site, pending any additional stabilization work required. The fire, which occurred on March 23, involved approximately 2-3 million tires and burned for 24 days until EPA’s specialty contractor was able to successfully complete the extinguishment. This project was a notable demonstration of concurrent federal, state, and local cleanup actions on scene. While EPA was disposing of hazardous substances, the VA DEQ was also disposing of unburned tires and solid waste during the same time frame. The combined use of resources resulted in a timely and cost-effective cleanup. EPA met both the projected estimated time frame of extinguishment (Projected: April 30, Actual: April 16) and the estimated deadline for completion of 90 days. A total of 6630 tons of soil and debris was removed; however, as part of a cooperative arrangement with VA DEQ, the Commonwealth of Virginia assumed the cost for approximately 1840 tons.
HISTORY:
On Thursday, April 4, EPA began the fire-fighting phase of the effort. This included focusing on controlling off-site migration of airborne and waterborne contaminants. Two major areas were initially identified as burning; one area in particular was generating an excessive amount of smoke. This smoke was blowing over a large residential area in adjacent to the site. From a health perspective, particulate levels in the smoke were below the 24 hour exposure standard defined by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ). As a precaution, EPA supplied homes in proximity of the site with carbon monoxide monitors. To ensure the collection of water runoff, retention basins were dug around the site. A public meeting was held on Thursday, April 4 to review response activities and address public health concerns.
April 16, 2002: Tire fire is extinguished ahead of schedule. On Tuesday, April 16 during a press conference conducted by the Unified Command, the Roanoke County Fire Chief officially declared the tire fire extinguished. Roanoke County Fire Department used thermal imaging to recommend to the Chief that the fire be declared completely out. During the press conference, EPA contributed the quick success of extinguishment efforts to a strong unified command structure and the assistance of a contractor specializing in ravine and tire fires. The contractor, Williams Fire & Hazard Control demobilized from the site late on April 16. The EPA will continue efforts to remove and dispose of debris generated by the fire extinguishment efforts. The VA DEQ will be assisting with remaining tire disposal.
Update May 6, 2002:
The transportation of burned waste tires to appropriate disposal facilities began this week at this site of a massive tire fire last month that has since been extinguished. Notices were mailed last week to property owners along the transportation route and to local businesses and school authorities so that they would be aware of the expected increase in truck traffic and have time to make any necessary adjustments. Disposal activities will likely occur for the next two months. In addition, recent work has centered on repairing damage caused by last Thursday's storm. The storm washed out the first underflow dam and the bridge to the second underflow dam. It also caused erosion damage to the bare slopes which remained after fire-fighting and waste disposal activities cleared several areas of the site. On Friday, May 10, OSC Christine Wagner will participate with other members of the Unified Command, in the filming of a TV documentary about the tire fire.
