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Tim Olk traveled to Hoopeston, Illinois—about two hours south of Chicago—to capture images of a massive fire raging through a large tire recycling plant. His photographs reveal the sheer scale of destruction caused by the inferno.
The News-Gazette reported that scores of firefighters from Vermilion and Iroquois counties have been working tirelessly to contain the blaze that erupted early Wednesday morning at J&R Used Tire Service Inc., located at 103 Maple Street. The fire began in the southern portion of the 400,000-square-foot brick structure, which was packed with tires. By the time firefighters arrived at 5:20 a.m., the situation was already dire.
Hoopeston Fire Chief Cliff Crabtree described the chaos during a press briefing around 11 a.m., stating that they had to adopt a defensive strategy due to the nature of the fire. "From the very start, it's been an overwhelming experience," he admitted. Despite their efforts, Chief Crabtree noted that losing the entire building seemed inevitable given the circumstances.
Around five employees were present when the fire broke out, but all managed to evacuate safely. One individual was briefly hospitalized for suspected smoke inhalation before being discharged later that morning. The owner of the business, Rodney Rogers, expressed hope for restarting operations by Friday if environmental regulators approve the cleanup process. Several neighboring recyclers have pledged support to ensure continuity of service for nearly 1,000 clients across Illinois and Indiana.
Authorities evacuated nearby residential areas including Maple, Market, and Lincoln Streets, along with parts of Second and Third Avenues, following the initial outbreak. Residents found refuge at Hoopeston Area High School and local churches. Hazardous materials teams from Danville assisted in monitoring air quality throughout the ordeal.
Rodney Rogers spent much of Wednesday coordinating with insurance representatives and planning recovery strategies while awaiting clearance from the Illinois EPA. Meanwhile, tire fires typically last several days, presenting unique challenges to emergency responders operating within close proximity to homes.
Local residents described witnessing thick plumes of smoke extending up to twenty miles away toward Bismarck, resembling ominous storm clouds. Close to town, the acrid odor of burning rubber permeated the atmosphere. Firefighting efforts involved multiple departments hailing from cities such as Hoopeston, East Lynn, Wellington, Bismarck, Rossville, Rankin, Potomac, Bluegrass, Danville, Milford, and Watseka. Water supplies were transported via municipal pipelines, bottled water suppliers, local food processing plants, agricultural cooperatives, and even farmer trucks hauling semi-trailers full of liquid reserves.
Community solidarity shone brightly as volunteers provided relief measures including air-conditioned rest zones for fatigued personnel and mobile distribution points offering hydration and meals directly at the scene. "There’s no way we could manage without this incredible level of public assistance," remarked Chief Crabtree gratefully.
Despite these collective endeavors, experts anticipate prolonged containment efforts spanning multiple days. Director Ted Fisher confirmed voluntary evacuations remained in effect for affected neighborhoods while emphasizing precautionary measures implemented by authorities.
Company spokesperson Lance Smith highlighted J&R’s pivotal role within regional logistics, serving over eight hundred accounts between two states. Their primary function involves dismantling discarded vehicle components before repurposing usable materials into eco-friendly commodities like playground surfaces or construction barriers. Unfortunately, conventional firefighting methods proved ineffective against such intense blazes fueled primarily by synthetic compounds resistant to traditional suppression techniques.
Eyewitnesses recalled spotting flames erupting mere minutes after staff detected anomalies around dawn. Efforts to quell initial outbreaks using portable extinguishers and hose connections linked to onsite reservoirs ultimately failed due to rapid escalation beyond control thresholds. Longtime resident Ted Fisher echoed sentiments shared by many peers regarding unprecedented severity witnessed firsthand.