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Burning Rubber

Short answer: Tire fires are hard to extinguish because tires are made of flammable rubber, synthetic polymers and steel, and piles trap heat. They can smolder for days, weeks or months, releasing carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, volatile organic compounds and heavy metals that pollute air, soil and water.

The footage, credited to James Melville, shows a large tire pile burning.

VideoWrite-up1 sources
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What should you know about Burning Rubber?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Rubber and polymers.

    DD-457-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Fuel)

  2. Days to months.

    DD-457-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Duration)

Video transcript: Burning Rubber: A Tire Pile Fire Can Smolder for Months

Did you know, burning tire piles are a significant environmental and safety hazard due to the large quantities of toxic smoke and pollutants they release. Tires are highly flammable and once ignited are difficult to extinguish due to their composition of rubber, synthetic polymers, and steel. The intense heat can cause fire to smolder for days, weeks, or even months. These fires release harmful chemicals like carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, and volatile organic compounds or VOCs, as well as heavy metals which contaminate the air, soil, and water. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 27.8s Reel ·

Video coming soonBurning Rubber · Instagram Reel
Burning Rubber: A Tire Pile Fire Can Smolder for Months Instagram Reel · · 27.8s

The write-up

A tire pile fire can smolder for months. It releases toxic smoke into air, soil and water.

  1. Exhibit A

    Fuel

    Rubber and polymers.

  2. Exhibit B

    Duration

    Days to months.

  3. Exhibit C

    Gases

    CO and sulfur oxides.

  4. Exhibit D

    VOCs

    Released.

  5. Exhibit E

    Pollution

    Air, soil, water.

Questions people ask about Burning Rubber

How long can they smolder?

Persistent.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Fuel) · Wikipedia: Tire fire

A pollutant?

Toxic.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Duration) · Wikipedia: Tire fire

What is in tires?

Composition.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Gases) · Wikipedia: Tire fire

What gets contaminated?

Runoff.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (VOCs) · Wikipedia: Tire fire

VOC means?

Fumes.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Pollution) · Wikipedia: Tire fire

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. How long can they smolder?

    1. Months
    2. Seconds
    3. Minutes
    4. Never
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Months Persistent. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Fuel) · Wikipedia: Tire fire

  2. A pollutant?

    1. Sulfur oxides
    2. Oxygen
    3. Helium
    4. Nitrogen gas
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Sulfur oxides Toxic. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Duration) · Wikipedia: Tire fire

  3. What is in tires?

    1. Rubber and steel
    2. Glass
    3. Wood
    4. Paper
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Rubber and steel Composition. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Gases) · Wikipedia: Tire fire

  4. What gets contaminated?

    1. Air, soil, water
    2. Only air
    3. Nothing
    4. Only soil
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Air, soil, water Runoff. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (VOCs) · Wikipedia: Tire fire

  5. VOC means?

    1. Volatile organic compound
    2. Very old carbon
    3. Vapor of chlorine
    4. None
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Volatile organic compound Fumes. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Pollution) · Wikipedia: Tire fire

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Burning Rubber." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-457, last updated Jan 12, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/burning-rubber/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/burning-rubber/ · Last updated

Markdown version

Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-457-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/burning-rubber/#DD-457-F01