News Summary
A significant fire broke out at Patriot Recycling in Bristol, Tennessee, resulting in massive black smoke visible from surrounding areas. Emergency responders are actively working to control the fire, which has impacted local traffic. No injuries have been reported, and investigations are ongoing regarding the cause. Residents with respiratory issues are advised to stay indoors, while fire crews anticipate a lengthy suppression effort amid concerns about potential hazardous emissions.
Bristol, Tennessee
A large fire erupted at Patriot Recycling in Bristol, Tennessee, on June 12 at approximately 3:06 p.m. The blaze involved significant quantities of rubber material, producing plumes of black smoke that were visible from as far as Kingsport and Blountville. Emergency responders quickly mobilized to contain the fire, which has significantly impacted traffic in the area.
The Patriot Recycling plant is located at 247 Industrial Road in the Bristol Industrial Park off Weaver Pike. Established in the fall of 2013, it is the only approved tire recycling center in Tennessee, specializing in shredding tires and converting them into products like Crumb Rubber and Tire Derived Aggregate.
Traffic on portions of Weaver Pike leading to Industrial Park Road became heavily congested shortly after the fire was reported. Photos circulating on social media captured a Quint fire truck utilizing its telescopic boom to combat the flames from above the building. Fire crews from the Bristol Fire Department, alongside personnel from Piney Flats Fire Department, Avoca Fire Department, and Sullivan County Emergency Management, have been actively involved in battling this blaze.
The fire scene remained active on the afternoon of June 13, a full day after the initial outbreak. According to officials, efforts to suppress the fire could extend into the weekend and may involve a multi-day process. Despite the scale of the fire, there have been no reported injuries related to the incident.
Preliminary investigations indicate that a piece of equipment at Patriot Recycling ignited the rubber material, which subsequently spread on the conveyor belt towards external piles of recycled material. The Environmental Protection Agency has emphasized that tire fires are notoriously challenging to extinguish and can release hazardous substances into the atmosphere.
As a precaution, residents prone to respiratory issues have been advised to remain indoors to limit exposure to potential smoke and emissions. Despite the dangers associated with the fire, no air quality advisories have been issued by the Bristol Tennessee Fire Department, Sullivan County Emergency Management, or any Tennessee state regulatory agencies at this time.
Multiple fire departments from neighboring regions, including Sullivan County, Washington County Virginia, Washington County Tennessee, and Carter County, have contributed to ensuring a steady water supply to the fire scene. Emergency responders have played a pivotal role in controlling the situation and preventing it from escalating further.
Authorities continue to urge the public to avoid the area as fire crews remain on site working tirelessly to contain and extinguish the blaze. With the situation developing and progress being made, further updates will be provided as the response unfolds.
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Additional Resources
- WCYB News
- Wikipedia: Bristol, Tennessee
- WCYB News – Cooperation
- Google Search: Patriot Recycling fire Bristol Tennessee
- WJHL News
- Google Scholar: tire recycling fires
- SuperTalk 92.9
- Encyclopedia Britannica: tire recycling
- WCYB News – Responders
- Google News: Bristol Tennessee tire fire
