Thick clouds of hazardous black smoke billowed up from a tire recycling facility that caught fire in Central Valley.
This incident occurred at American Tire Recycling, LLC, located on Newport Road in the Ballico area of Merced County, on a Monday afternoon.
According to a post on Facebook by the Turlock Fire Department, “Merced County fire crews are currently on scene of a large tire fire east of Turlock, which is producing a significant smoke column that may be visible from throughout the surrounding area.”
They also advised that residents nearby might notice smoke and odors and urged them to steer clear of the area to give emergency responders space to do their work.
Additionally, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) mentioned the closure of Newport Road between Sunny Acres Avenue and East Avenue, although they could not provide a timeline for when it would reopen.
A bystander who recorded the fire expressed that the situation was “super scary” from their perspective, noting that “they were burning tires.” The individual also mentioned that their son could see the flames from their home in Winton.
The Merced County Fire Department issued a smoke advisory, indicating that due to the materials involved, the fire was expected to continue burning for an extended period.
People with respiratory issues are being advised to exercise caution and avoid the area until the fire is completely out. Emergency crews are actively working on the scene.
This fire at the tire facility comes shortly after California’s recent unanimous decision to implement new regulations aimed at phasing out the sale of replacement tires that fail to meet the state’s energy-efficiency standards, which could potentially reduce the sale of nearly 70% of current tire offerings.
According to the Tire Industry Association, these new rules could result in an increase in average tire prices, rising from about $81 to as much as $157.
