FERNDALE, Wash. — First responders were dispatched to the 3500 block of N Red River Road this morning, July 4th, about 3:25am due to a report several tires on fire.
Whatcom County Fire District 17 Fire Chief Jim Petrie said they arrived to find a 300-foot diameter pile of tires fully involved with flames beginning to spread into nearby bushes.
“Water is completely ineffective on tires,” Petrie explained to Whatcom News. “We contacted Whatcom County Fire District 7 in Ferndale to respond with a fire engine equipped with foam.” That supply of foam was being exhausted when fire crews from nearby Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery arrived with more.”
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Click for more informationA plume of dark smoke was visible until about 5:30am when the foam was able to completely smother the fire, Petrie said.
Firefighters remained on scene until about 8am.
Petrie estimated there were around 2,000 tires at the site. The tires appeared to be illegally dumped on trust land and there was no private owner to contact.
The cause of the fire was undetermined according to Petrie.