Lightning Sparks Fire in Acres of Tires
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PLATTEVILLE, Colo. — A lightning-caused fire engulfed 30 acres of tires Wednesday, spreading a plume of toxic black smoke that was visible by pilots in Wyoming and Nebraska, officials said.
The blaze burned out of control in a private salvage yard called Tire Mountain, which contained an estimated 6 million tires. No injuries were reported.
The Colorado Health Department reported that the toxic cloud posed no danger to anyone outside of a half-mile radius of the fire, according to Lea Eckman, county emergency office manager.
About 150 firefighters from 10 communities used foam and water to fight the blaze, located about 15 miles south of Greeley. Firefighters wore air packs and tried to create a fire line between the flames and tires not yet on fire.
Weld County officials said they planned to use heavy-duty bulldozers to divide the fire and fight it in sections. Similar fires have burned for months.
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