Dedication and professionalism were demonstrated in their support and assistance. The City of Washington, Washington County Department of Public Safety and the state departments of Environmental Protection and Health breathed a collective sigh of relief March 8 as the National Granulating Co. tire fire was extinguished and about 70 residents were allowed to return home. Firefighters will remain on the scene to monitor site conditions. All of the tire piles were thoroughly doused by the firefighters and will go through the final quenching process before they're taken to a landfill. Bialosky added the tires will be cooled for an additional period at the landfill before being disposed.
Monitoring consists of temperature probes into the piles and visual inspections.
Residents were evacuated on March 4 when smoke and particulate levels increased as the fire fighting efforts intensified. DEP advised city and county officials to evacuate 43 homes and a nearby school. The vehicle includes the equipment and the staff to collect and analyze air samples. Despite continuing high winds, officials said Friday that they were optimistic they could bring the largest tire fire in Pennsylvania under control within a few days. Seventy people from 43 homes east of the fire at the National Granulating Company remain evacuated as DEP emergency response personnel continue air monitoring for carbon monoxide and particulates from the smoke.