Photo to WBIR-TV by Rob Christenson
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From WBIR-TV:
A layer of melted rubber has formed a crust over some flames inside Mac's Tire Recycling Center at 1407 Boruff Road in East Knoxville. Firefighters said it could take several days to remove the layer and attack the fire that remains underneath.
Firefighters have also knocked down a wall on the western side of the facility. The opening will be used as a new entrance for firefighters who are fighting the biggest flames. Those are located in the eastern portion of the recycling center.
A cloud of thick smoke could be seen for miles when the fire broke out around 7 p.m. Thursday.
The 10,000 sq. ft. building was covered with flames.
KFD said a lot of tires, used to make rubber mulch, were inside the building.
No employees were inside the facility when the building caught fire.
Firefighters are urging nearby homeowners to stay inside if the smoke blows in their direction.
KFD Spokesperson D.J. Corcoran said the cause of the fire remains under investigation, but another fire at the same facility nearly five months ago could help them find answers.
"That fire [in January] was caused by a grinder. Rubber is ground up and builds on working parts of machinery and the rubber got hot and caused the fire that night," said Corcoran.
There was also a large tire fire last May in North Knoxville. The business at that site was also run by a company called Mac's Tire Recycling. We have not been able to confirm if the two businesses are connected.
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