Huge Ayutthaya tyre fire sparks environmental concerns

The used tyres piled in a field adjacent to Moo 4 village, Bang Sai district, burned for more than five hours. Crews of 50 fire engines fought the blaze and dug a containment ditch around the site to prevent it from spreading.
Some were still spraying water over the site on Friday morning lest the flames reignite.
The tyres belonged to Somyot Ruangubol, 61, who cut them up for resale to a local cement plant, where the rubber is used as fuel in its production process.
Ayutthaya Governor Sujin Chaiyachumsak announced on Friday he had instructed relevant agencies to investigate the cause of the fire and assess its environmental impact on communities within a two-kilometre radius.
He also ordered an inspection of other recycling businesses to ensure there are no more potential hazards.