State, local leaders work to address scrap tire problem

DAYTON, Ohio ( WDTN ) — Following a large fire involving scrap tire pile on Monday in Dayton, local communities are seeking answers on what can be done to prevent future fires.

Scrap tire piles can pose a significant risk to the community and environment. After Monday’s fire filled the sky with black smoke , city and neighborhood leaders are working together to stop this from happening again.

“They can be very difficult fires that the fire department needs to extinguish. They can release toxic smoke, they can release oils. And so they are a hazard for the community,” said Joe Goicochea, Ohio EPA.

In the recent city commission meeting, the City of Dayton said they’ve known about the pile for three years, and have given several citations to the property owner. They say they’ve even offered assistance in removing them.

But local leaders in Old North Dayton say it’s hard to see in their community.

“It’s sad. And it could happen in any neighborhood because it’s, you know, it is a single person that can do a lot of damage by storing tires of that magnitude on a single family residential property,” said Matthew Tepper, Old North Dayton associate president. “Something like this happens. You’re affecting a lot of people for months, if not years. Just it’s hard.”

The Ohio EPA says they have a comprehensive program for the management of scrap tires, and that they have removed more than 40 million tires across the state.

“There’s a lot of beneficial uses of scrap tires, so more than 90% of the tires that are properly disposed or probably disposed are recycled,” said Goicochea. “We want to see those picked up by registered transporters taken to the proper facilities. There are also permitted facilities across Ohio.”

The city says they will be conducting a legal analysis and looking at enforcement options.

If there are scrap piles of tires in your community that you are concerned about, you can contact Ohio EPA or your local health department , and they will work to remove them.

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