NCJ Number
133137
Journal
Canadian Police College Journal Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: (1991) Pages: 166-202
Date Published
1991
Length
37 pages
Annotation
This article describes the emergency response to the so-called Hagersville fire that occurred in Ontario in 1990 when 12 to 14 million rubber tires caught fire and burned for 17 days.
Abstract
Although over 310 groups and agencies were involved in the response in some fashion, the major participants were over 500 firefighters from 29 volunteer fire stations, fire officials, police, and officials from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Natural Resources. This article describes the first response and fire fighting efforts as well as the informal meetings on possible evacuation and public safety issues. While the original evacuation zone was lightly populated, the area eventually expanded to cover two native reserves and a substantial population. Two reception centers were established and area nursing homes and hospitals prepared for evacuation. This complete analysis discusses the effect of the fire on local schools, the role of the Environment Ministry, testing and closures, and firefighting details. The off-site management of the fire was eventually shifted to the Minister for Natural Resources; the impact of this development is also covered in the article. Although local agencies had prepared for the eventuality of a fire, the community had no way of anticipating the enormity of such a long-running disaster.