After 24 Hours, NY Recycling Plant Fire Under Control

LOCKPORT — A massive fire at High Tread International was declared under control nearly 24 hours after firefighters first arrived on the scene.

Lockport Fire Chief Patrick Brady made the declaration about 5:30 p.m. Thursday, according to WIVB Buffalo. The fire at the plant, bordered by Ohio and Stevens streets, was first reported about 6:35 p.m. Wednesday.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Thursday. Brady declined to comment on a rumor that arson was involved. Lockport Police Detective Lt. Todd Chenez spoke of an area that is being investigated by police.

“There may (have been) somebody inside the building at the time of the fire,” Chenez said. “There are reports of it. There has been speculation that the individual was in the building and has not been heard from since. So again, we’re looking into that right now.”

Reportedly, about 100 people are employed by HTI Recycling. It could not be determined how many were working when the fire broke out.

Four buildings at the facility were involved in the fire, mostly storage buildings, Brady said.

Because the fire scene contained twisted metal, fallen roofs and high walls, heavy equipment was brought in to move debris as firefighters looked for and put out hot spots at the scene.

“It’s very time-consuming,” Brady said. “Today it’s very hot and very hard work for the firefighters to do. It quite frankly is going to create smoke as we go.”

At the scene, a couple of trailers containing tires also caught fire.

Residents in a nine-block area around the fire scene were evacuated by 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, as the fire grew. That evacuation order remained in effect into Thursday evening, when reports surfaced about a few select areas being reopened.

Lockport Fire Department was assisted by more than 40 fire agencies and 200 firefighters from three counties in fighting the blaze. No injuries were reported, according to Brady.

The Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, New York State Police and county axillary police assisted LPD with traffic control, crowd control and the evacuation process.

Risks anDconcerns

Over a 24-hour period, the city produced between 11 million and 12 million gallons of water to put out the fire, according to Mayor Anne McCaffrey. On a normal day it produces about 4.5 million gallons.

“Our plant was pretty much maxed out, but we were able to keep up with the supply that was needed,” she said.

Representatives of the Niagara County health and state environmental conservation departments were on the fire scene overnight Wednesday-Thursday, monitoring water quality and air quality. McCaffrey said no issues were identified.

“Certainly we know there is a smoky odor in the area and certainly the fire is still burning, and we our concerned about that,” McCaffrey said, noting that the air has been determined to be “satisfactory.”

Moving forward

No injuries and no homes damaged by the fire are “a large bright spot,” Brady said.

“The fact we managed to save the residences from catching fire on the street immediately adjacent to the facility is incredible work.”

Because the cause of the fire remains unknown, both Brady and McCaffrey said it is unknown whether anything could have been done to prevent it.

In 2012, a fire broke out at the same location, then owned by Liberty Tire. That company was sold to HTI in February of 2015, and recently, according to Brady, the owner was taking steps to make it safer.

FIRE COVERAGE

Some residents returning home near smoldering facility. LOCAL, 7A

Niagara County health officials keeping careful eye on air, water. LOCAL, 7A

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