BELOIT - Firefighting crews recognized early on that the fire at Belcoat Corp. which had thousands of junk tires on the property, presented a potential environmental risk.
The Beloit Fire Department initiated strategies to minimize environmental damage and to monitor any environmental impact, according to a news release from the City of Beloit.
The fire at Belcoat Corp. at 1515 Yates Ave., was reported at about 12:45 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 12. Beloit Fire Department personnel, along with crews from other area departments responded to the scene. The fire was in the warehouse area and that building collapsed. No one was injured.
The Beloit Department of Public Works – during a blizzard-like snowstorm – placed barriers in the Turtle Creek around 2 a.m. to prevent any runoff.
According to the city's news, firefighters only used water to extinguish the fire.
"We did not use any foam that could negatively impact the environment," the news release from the city stated. "We were able to build a trench at the scene quickly to start extinguishing the tires that were on fire while having the other tires moved away from the area. These actions helped protect our environment."
Corporate Contractors Inc. (CCI) and ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½â€™s and Beloit’s Department of Public Works played a crucial role in moving tires from the scene so the fire did not spread further.
"Without that support and advance planning, the fire would likely have taken days to extinguish instead of 16 hours," the news release from the city stated.
The Wisconsin National Guard’s 53th CST completed air quality testing at the scene of the fire after the initial evacuations were completed. The air quality testing revealed no public health concerns.
The city has not been made aware of any ongoing environmental concerns due to the fire.Â
The cause of the fire has not been determined yet, according to the news release from the city.
Belcoat Corp. and owner Langone faces citations from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Department of Justice regarding storage of waste tires on the property. Langone and his attorney say the tires were placed on the property on Yates Avenue by a previous tenant and Langone has been trying for years to get rid of the tires.
Langone has told the Beloit Daily News that he has contracted with a Milwaukee area tire and scrap metal recycling company to assist in cleaning up the property following the fire. He said the cleanup could begin this week.
During the fire, some neighbors in the area were asked to evacuate due to concerns about the fumes from burning tires. Residents were asked to wear face masks in the area of the fire as it continued to burn.
Also, a gas line was severed in the area, causing about 850 residents to be left without gas service for over 24 hours.
Merrill Elementary School was opened as a warming center for those evacuated from the neighborhood. Central Christian Church and the Beloit Public Library also served as havens for those who were displaced by the fire or due to the gas service interruption.
Fire departments responding to the fire included Town of Beloit, ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½, South Beloit, Town of Turtle, Rockton, Harlem Roscoe, Lakeside, Capron, Boone County, Cherry Valley, Loves Park, Monroe and North Park.
The Beloit Fire Department also noted assistance from Rock County Communications Center (911 dispatch), Southern Wisconsin Emergency Preparedness Team (SWEPT), Alliant Energy, Rock County and City of Beloit emergency management, Beloit and Town of Beloit Police, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Canadian-Pacific Railroad (held all train traffic from coming through), Rock County Human Services, Rock County Public Health, Wisconsin Emergency Management, and numerous other City of Beloit staff members who assisted behind the scenes.
