Arson fire devastates tire facility

HOT SPRINGS - Arson was the cause of the large fire at Enviro-Tire near Lonepine on Dec. 22, and according to officials, new leads have not arisen despite the $3,000 reward offered for any information.

Early in the morning on that Saturday, a Hot Springs policeman was traveling to his home near Lonepine when he spotted a large fire out on the property of Enviro-Tire. He called it in at approximately 2:08 a.m., and Hot Springs Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the scene shortly after.

Enviro-Tire is a tire recycling center with customers spanning from as far as Spokane to local businesses such as Les Schwab and even Cost-Co. They pick up or accept old and used tires, and store them in 40-foot deep “cells” beneath the surface of their facility grounds. They have been in operation for 15 years, and according to officilas, have always kept to code on the required fire plan of action. The size of the cell holding the tires set on fire was 30 feet by 110 feet, and Hot Springs fire chief Randy Woods stated the flames rose 150-200 feet in the air.

“The heat was so intense, that the hoses on the excavator [vehicle] were melting,” Chief Woods said. “We arrived and couldn’t gain full access of the site at first, and when we walked in to investigate, we saw how the heat was beginning to melt the hoses on the excavator and had to move it away. As for the fire, there wasn’t much we could do ut just make sure it stayed contained [in the cell].”

Woods stated the owners, who are out fo Kalispell, arrived shortly after 3 a.m. and by 3:30, HSFD was able to bring all of their equipment in to start the fire suppression plan.

The fire prevention plan that had been instilled for the facility was originally meant for wild land fires; however, the size and span of the arson-fueled fire caled for immediate action with the use of dirt. Approximately 10 feet of dirt was dispersed onto the flame-ridden cell, and by 7 a.m. the fire was out.

“It was the first fire on that facility,” Chief Woods said. “And this was arson.”

The state of Montana fire marshall’s office and the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office are currently investigating the scene and looking for leads as to whom could have set the cell on fire.

“This has hurt them,” Cheif Woods said of the owners. “Not only did it cause damage to the equipment and the time, labor, and fuel put in - they’ve lost all that work. And to re-dig a new cell while trying to keep up with their customers right around the holidays is also damaging. Someone walks in and maliciously damages their stuff, it’s hard on them.”

Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact SCSO.