Dunklin County Tire Fire

April 4, 2004

A large fire involving waste tires and refuse was reported at the Acup Salvage and Recycling Company, Hwy. 25, in Malden, located in southeast Missouri.   The Malden Police and Fire Departments responded along with Jackson Bostic from the department's Southeast Regional Office. Bostic learned the fire was started when the owner was burning debris and the fire escaped the confines of a burn pit.  Bostic reported that the fire involved an area of approximately three acres including refuse, paper, wire, appliances and waste tires.  No residences were directly threatened by the fire, but thick black smoke was drifting toward the town of Malden.  No waterways were threatened. 

Contractors were mobilized to separate ignition sources and fire fighters were attempting to extinguish the fires.  Gusting winds did not help the efforts.  Bostic advised the owner to secure the services of an environmental contractor to do a site assessment after the fire is extinguished. It was expected to take three days to put out the fire.

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