A fire broke out at a Texas warehouse on May 14, causing industrial fire alarms to sound and signaling a full evacuation. No injuries were reported. The fire was accidentally started in a pile of shredded tires at the Lubbock, Texas warehouse. Workers were apparently welding a tire shredder at the time, but had forgotten to remove tires from beneath the machine, sparking the blaze.
Lubbock Fire Department Deputy Fire Marshal Robert Loveless told Fox Lubbock affiliate KJTV that the fire started at approximately 10:15 a.m., at which point fire crews were called to the scene.
While the fire was described by Lubbock Fire Department Chief Shaun Fogerson as small, and firefighters were able to extinguish the flames using foam within about 10 minutes, significant damage was caused to the tire shredder, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported.
The burning tires sent thick smoke into the air. When burned, tires emit an acrid smell and large volumes of smoke, which is a significant pollutant that can be toxic to exposed individuals.
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