Savannah Fire Sets Georgia Ablaze With Toxic Black Smoke [Video]

A Savannah fire is still burning away in Georgia and the tower of black smoke can be seen for miles around.

In a related report by The Inquisitr, a policeman arrested a fireman because he “illegally” parked his fire engine in the middle of the road and refused to move it… while rescuing victims of an accident.

The fire department says the Savannah fire is being fueled by 5,600 tons of rubber spread over 226,000 square feet. Locals describe the scene as if watching a volcano going off. The crews contained the fire within the warehouse by blasting it with three water cannons fed by the Savannah River. The Georgia Air National Guard will also be bringing in reinforcements to keep the fire from spreading to another warehouse.

The good news is that the Savannah fire is contained and crews are ready to keep soaking through Sunday if necessary. Streets in the area have reopened to traffic and best of all no one was killed or injured when the blaze started.

The bad news is that these are solid blocks of rubber burning away, sending potentially toxic black smoke into downtown historic Savannah. Although no mandatory evacuations were ordered, Savannah Fire and Emergency Services spokespeople recommend avoiding this tourist area and to stay indoors as much as possible. It’s possible officials in Savannah may close the Talmadge Bridge if the winds shift in the wrong direction. Right now the black smoke is raising almost straight up.

The health hazard posed by burning rubber tires is toxic chemicals like carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and styrene. Reports from the EPA say they also contain human carcinogens such as benzene, butadiene, and benzapyrene. The health department has also released this statement:

“Smoke from any fire can be a respiratory irritant and will release particulate matter in the air. Avoiding the area and limiting exposure to the smoke is recommended. Children, elderly, and other individuals who have respiratory sensitivities such as asthma or other lung conditions should avoid exposure.”

Experts say an event like the Savannah fire can create air emissions that are 13,000 times more mutagenic than burning coal and can represent significant short and long term effects such as “irritation of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes, respiratory effects, central nervous system depression, and cancer.”