Rolleston tyre fire probably accidental

Environment Canterbury (ECan) says there is no immediate risk to waterways from fire-water run-off caused by a large tyre fire.

Eleven fire trucks were sent to Diggalink’s yard off Weedons Rd, near State Highway 1, about

4.25pm on Sunday.

A hedge fire had spread to a

1500-square-metre pile of disused tyres at a neighbouring property.

The fire was contained about

7pm, but was still burning through the evening.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokeswoman said firefighters were at the scene until the fire was ‘‘totally knocked down’’ about midnight.

Fire investigator Jason Hobbs said the exact cause of the fire was yet to be established, but it probably started accidentally.

There was no electricity in the area at the time of the blaze, so that was not being considered as a potential cause.

An ECan spokeswoman said incident response staff were sent to the scene yesterday.

‘‘There is no immediate risk to waterways from the run-off, and foam/water pools remaining at the site will be removed by sucker trucks.’’

They remained at the scene late yesterday afternoon.

Diggalink managing director John Giltrap said he was unsure what caused the fire.

The tyres had been stored next door for a ‘‘long time’’.

They had ‘‘always been a fire hazard’’, but he said he understood the owner was in the process of getting them moved.

Diggalink suffered no damage in the blaze, and it was business as usual yesterday.