Officials say Crowe Tire and Battery fire keeps igniting due to tires

HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) - 5-22-2023 Evening Update: Firefighters at the scene of the Crowe Tire and Battery fire said they will continue to stay on the scene for several hours.

Hazard Fire Department Fire Chief Robert Keith said he has dealt with fires like this before in the past, adding that the tires and the oil in the building are causing the fire to reignite.

“We’re just having a hard time with all the tires in the building. You just can’t hardly put them out with water, and there was an estimate of 4,000 tires is what an employee told me,” said Keith. “We’re just having a hard time keeping them out. We’ll get them out and think we’re in good shape, then two or three hours later, its back going again.”

The flames began again around 6 p.m. and Business Route 15 around the scene is once again blocked off.

5-22-2023 Afternoon Update: Hazard Police say Business Route 15 is now open, as of about 3:15 p.m.

5-22-2023 Morning Update: Crowe Tire and Battery caught back on fire Monday morning.

At last check, Hazard Police have part of the road closed in that section of town while firefighters continue to fight the flames for the second time.

If you are coming down the ramp from Kentucky 15, you will be able to turn right toward Walkertown. However, if you are coming from Hazard on Main Street or trying to turn left onto Main Street at the bottom of the ramp, the road is closed there.

Hazard Fire Chief Robert Keith tells WYMT’s Olivia Calfee while the fire is out again for the moment, due to the number of tires inside the building there is a real chance it could start up again later and the department will continue to monitor the situation.

Original Story 5-21-2023: Several fire departments were called to fight a fire in Hazard.

First responders received a call about a fire at Crowe Tire and Battery on North Main Street around 8:30 p.m. Sunday night.

The road was closed as crews battled the blaze. Multiple power outages were also reported in the area.

Hazard Fire Department Chief Robert Keith said they were the first to arrive at the scene. He said the amount of tires in the building caused heavier fire and smoke.

”From the time that I’ve arrived, we had heavy fire in the upstairs storage area of the building where they are storing tires. I’ve been told that they have a stock of around 4,000 tires in the building, and most of the fire was in there,” Robert Keith said.

Keith also said that they do not believe anyone was in the building when the fire started.

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