Progress Being Made On Minto Tire Fire

Officials say progress is being made to smother a tire fire burning in Minto for the past week.

The blaze broke out at TRACC Tire Recycling last Friday night, creating plumes of black smoke which could be seen from more than 50 kilometres away.

Geoffrey Downey, a spokesperson with New Brunswick EMO, said crews have been dumping sand on the fire since Sunday in an effort to “bury the flames.”

“As of [Thursday] morning, there had been 2,300 truckloads dumped,” said Downey, adding the operation is going around the clock.

“Up until [Thursday], they had about 30 trucks going back and forth.”

Downey said the sand operation will continue until crews knock down the fire.

As for how long that will take, he said there are too many unknowns to know for sure.

“This is a new effort for everyone involved. We don’t have a lot of experience trying to bury a tire fire, unfortunately,” said Downey.

“The working conditions are still quite dangerous so they are proceeding slowly but surely. I think it’s probably safe to say we’re talking a few days at most, we’re not looking at a week or anything.”

Downey said environmental testing has already begun in the area and will continue once the fire is out.

“This is going to be a site that’s going to have to be monitored for a while,” he said.

“This is an environmental issue … People will have to be watching the water supply, any soil damage and things of that nature.”

An air quality advisory continues for the Minto-Chipman area due to the smoke and residents on the industrial park water system have been told not to drink their water.

Downey said it is too soon to say when those advisories will be lifted.