Watertown Tire Recyclers, Inc.

Watertown, WI: (Jul-21-07) The city of Watertown brought a lawsuit against Watertown Tire Recyclers, Inc., alleging that the company was negligent in handling its business, causing a fire that caused extensive damage. In 2005, a front-end loader started a fire at Watertown Tire Recyclers that could be seen for several miles. The fire started when shredded tires got into the engine compartment of a front-end loader. According to a state fire marshal report, the tire debris was piled in such a manner that ventilation and cooling of the shredded material was not complete. Hot and humid conditions the week prior to the fire also contributed to the heat in the tire pile.

The state Department of Natural Resources requested the Department of Justice to file the lawsuit. A complaint in an environmental protection enforcement lawsuit against the tire recyclers for violations of the state's solid waste management laws was filed on June 8, 2006. In a settlement reached, the firm was ordered to pay $320,000 in penalties and costs for violations at its tire recycling facility. The settlement resolved claims by the state, as well as by the citizens' group, Dodge County and 94 other local entities that responded to the tire fire. The settlement provided for payment of $267,893.21 to the local responders, $31,000 to the DNR for its fire response costs and $21,106.79 to the state for costs. [WATERTOWN DAILY: TIRE FIRE]

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Published on Jul-23-07