Minto fire a 'cocktail of pollutants,' UNB Saint John professor says

A tire fire like the one burning in Minto could have numerous and lingering environmental impacts because there are so many pollutants involved, says a UNB professor whose lab specializes in contamination by metals.

"A tire fire is a great cocktail of pollutants … carbon monoxide, sulfur oxide that can be irritating to lands," Anne Crémazy, an assistant professor at the UNB Saint John's department of biological sciences, said Tuesday.

The fire at the TRACC tire recycling plant in the village about 50 kilometres east of Fredericton started Friday night and could go on for several more days. 

When it's extinguished, an environmental assessment will have to be done to determine the different levels of contaminants in the soil and water, Crémazy said.

Some of the pollutants are also linked to respiratory disorders, cancer and infertility, she said. 

There are air and water quality advisories in effect for the Minto and Chipman area.

Geoffrey Downey, spokesperson for the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization, said crews are working around the clock to extinguish the fire. About 20 dump trucks are hauling sand to the tire yard to help smother the flames. Around a dozen firefighters remain on scene — down from the 120 who battled the blaze on Saturday. 

Downey was unable to say how quickly the fire could be extinguished. 

"This is a first time operation really for everyone involved," Downey said, adding it's difficult to know how much sand is needed. 

"It's not just a question of calculating the area and saying this is how much sand you need because who knows how much sand ends up dropping [inside the tires], how thick the tires are, [or] whether they're liquefied or not." Downey said.

The sand is coming from a nearby pit, according to the province's fire marshal.

No one has visited the hospital because of respiratory problems related to smoke from the fire, Downey said.

EMO is still advising people to stay away from the area, however. 

"We understand people are curious, we understand the importance of the business to the area, but there's people working there in dangerous conditions and we have got to let them get on with their jobs," Downey said.

The government hasn't issued an order for residents to leave the community, even though you can still taste the toxic smoke in some parts of the community.

Environmental consequences

Environment Minister Jeff Carr said the province is working on plans to deal with the environmental fallout.

TRACC, which stands for Tire Recycling Atlantic Canada Corp., already has an environmental consultant on scene doing short-term assessments of water, soil and air quality to see how widespread the environmental damage might be, Carr said.

"We've never really seen a tire fire this size in New Brunswick," he said.

The consultant is using air-quality monitors and booms in the ditches to start sampling the soil and runoff and it's doing sampling of residential wells as well. 

• Devastating fire in Minto could last several days, says fire marshal 

"The closest wells to the site right now are being monitored, tested and assessed," Carr said. "We want to be able to get ahead of it. There's no sense of waiting until somebody gets sick." 

The province will hire an expert to oversee the overall environmental assessment and cleanup operation, which could last for several months, he said.

"We've got one shot at this. It's that big and that extensive."

Getting the fire extinguished is the primary concern, Carr said, but conversations on next steps are continuing.

"First things first, is get the fire suppressed and smothered and see if we can salvage the building."

Earlier in the week, Public Health issued a water advisory Monday afternoon for users of the Minto industrial park water system, the W.G. Bishop Nursing Home and Queens North Community Health Centre. 

They were told not to use the tap water "until assessments and testing of the industrial park water system show the water is safe to drink."

They were also advised to turn off air exchangers and keep windows closed.

Tire fires an ongoing issue

There have been a number of tire fires across North America over the years, including the 1990 tire fire in Hagersville, Ont., that burned 14 million scrap tires and spewed toxic smoke for 17 days. 

Partly prompted by that fire, New Brunswick's auditor general released a report in 1999 with recommendations for preventing tire fires.

The report recommended the Department of Environment and the Fire Marshal's Office develop a comprehensive plan identifying who was to inspect TRACC to make sure it was meeting various legislated requirements.

It also recommended having a contingency plan to ensure the public was protected during a tire fire.

CBC News asked to talk to someone in government about the TRACC contingency plan but has not received a response.   

1990 was the year of the tire fire in Canada

Carr said the tire stewardship program would continue, even if TRACC, which employs 50 people, can't do the job.

"There's no reason to believe, if TRACC can't reopen, that another company like it cannot reopen in the area. … We'll do everything we can to make sure tire recycling continues in Minto."