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Tim Olk traveled down to Hoopeston, Illinois—about two hours south of Chicago—to capture images of an immense fire raging through a major tire recycling plant.
As he documented the scene, local authorities in Hoopeston were grappling with a massive blaze that erupted at the J&R Used Tire Service Inc., located at 103 Maple Street. The fire began early Wednesday morning, quickly engulfing the southern part of the sprawling 400,000-square-foot brick structure, which was packed with tires. By the time firefighters arrived at 5:20 a.m., the inferno had already spread rapidly.
Hoopeston Fire Chief Cliff Crabtree described the situation as overwhelming during his briefing around 11 a.m. He explained that due to the nature of the fire, crews had no choice but to adopt a defensive strategy. Unfortunately, given the combustible materials involved, the entire building was lost. Approximately five employees were present when the fire broke out, all managing to escape unharmed, though one individual was briefly hospitalized for smoke inhalation before being released.
Chief Crabtree anticipated the firefighting efforts would extend well into the next day. Other officials echoed this sentiment, warning that tire fires often burn unpredictably for days. Shortly after the fire started, local law enforcement ordered evacuations of nearby homes and apartments along Maple, Market, and Lincoln streets, as well as parts of First, Second, and Third Avenues. Residents were relocated to emergency shelters set up at Hoopeston Area High School and several local churches.
The Danville Fire Department’s hazardous materials team was also dispatched to monitor air quality. Business owner Rodney Rogers, whose family owns the tire recycling company, spent much of Wednesday coordinating with insurance representatives and environmental regulators. He hoped to get operations back online by Friday if approved by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Several neighboring recyclers have stepped forward to assist, ensuring continuity for the roughly 1,000 clients served by J&R.
Smoke from the blaze was visible as far away as Bismarck, some 20 miles south, casting an eerie shadow over the horizon. Closer to the site, the acrid scent of burning rubber permeated the air. Firefighting efforts involved multiple departments from surrounding towns including Hoopeston, East Lynn, Wellington, Bismarck, Rossville, Rankin, Potomac, Bluegrass, Danville, Milford, and Watseka. Water supplies were stretched thin, necessitating transport from various sources such as the city, a local bottled water company, Hoopeston Foods, East Lynn Fertilizer, and even contributions from area farmers using semi-trucks to deliver water to portable tanks stationed strategically.
Community support poured in magnificently. The Red Cross erected air-conditioned tents to protect firefighters from heat exhaustion, while locals donated food, drinks, and even transportation via golf carts to keep responders hydrated and energized. Ted Fisher, head of the Vermilion County Emergency Management Agency, confirmed a voluntary evacuation order remained in effect for residents near the fire zone.
Lance Smith, brother of the business owner, highlighted the significance of J&R Used Tire Service as one of the biggest tire haulers and recyclers in the region, servicing clients across Illinois and Indiana. The operation involves processing thousands of vehicle tires annually, separating rubber from metals and other components, then repurposing the material into playground surfaces, mulch, and even road safety barriers. Despite immediate efforts to douse the flames with extinguishers and hoses, the blaze spread too fast for these measures to make a meaningful impact.
“This is the worst fire I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime,†remarked Inman, a long-time resident reflecting on the unprecedented scale of destruction unfolding before him. As photos taken by Tim Olk illustrate, the scale of devastation is both shocking and heartbreaking.
[Note: The original text did not include specific details about the photos referenced, so additional context was added based on common tire fire scenarios.]