Lincoln Gap tyre container fire continues to burn along Eyre Highway

A toxic fire in two Upper Spencer Gulf storage tanks could burn for weeks after CFS crews confirmed they were unable to extinguish the hazardous blaze.

A toxic fire burning “millions” of tyres stored in two old water tanks has the potential to burn for weeks, the CFS has confirmed.

Emergency crews are monitoring the burning tanks at Lincoln Gap, situated at the intersection of Lincoln and Eyre Highway, 25km southwest from Port Augusta.

CFS personnel first arrived on the scene 1.40am Thursday morning, with the initial cause of the fire currently under investigation.

The burning tanks were previously owned by SA Water before being sold off to a private company who used them for tyre storage.

CFS Flinders, Mid North and Pastoral Areas deputy commander Quinton Kessner said CFS “could still be monitoring the situation a week from now”.

One-lane traffic restrictions have been in place along the Eyre Highway. Picture: Isaac Selby

Old tyres and concrete tanks on fire the site known as ‘The Tanks’. a local landmark about 26km south-west of Port Augusta. Picture: Country Fire Service

“It’s estimated there could be up to a million tyres in each of these tanks,” Mr Kessner said.

“We’re pumping around 30,000 litres of water every ten minutes but you’re not going to put a fire like this out.”

The fire has affected two out of the five 15-metre tanks, with the CFS carefully managing the situation to ensure “molten rubber” doesn’t infiltrate the unlit tanks and surrounding scrub.

“Earlier in the piece there was a risk of embers being thrown by molten rubber but we’ve repositioned how we’re putting water into the tanks to mitigate the issue, Mr Kessner said.

The tyre fire will continue to burn for a week. Picture: Isaac Selby

CFS crew discuss operations in 42C heat. Picture: Isaac Selby

“There is always potential when you’ve got fire in the environment that it could spread to surrounding areas but we’re fortunate in that the saltbush around here takes a while to get going.”

The site of the Lincoln Gap fire was licensed by the EPA in 2010 as a waste tyre treatment operation and transport business.

A spokesperson for the EPA said over time they had observed “stockpiling of end-of-life tyres and partially treated tyres and a slowing rate of tyre processing.”

In April 2020 the EPA issued a clean-up order requiring the removal of the tyres by January 2021.

Aerial shot of the containers before the fire started. Picture: Darknstormy Images

The Lincoln Gap container fire has the potential to burn all week. Picture: Isaac Selby

CFS crew on deck at the fire. Picture: Isaac Selby

The order was not complied with and the site was abandoned by the operators, one of whom filed for bankruptcy in 2020, the EPA said.

Subsequent observations had found “no significant reduction in stockpile volumes and that processing had ceased.”

Ongoing air quality monitoring is being conducted by CFS personnel and speed limit restrictions are in place along the Eyre Highway to combat smoke visibility issues.

Police are seeking dash-cam footage from motorists on the Eyre Highway and have deemed the fire as suspicious.