THURSDAY'S TIRE FIRE THAT SENT BLACK SMOKE OVER PART OF WEST SIDE ALBUQUERQUE WAS A PROBLEM BERNALILLO COUNTY OFFICIALS SAW COMING. FIRE CREWS RUSHED TO THE PAJARITO MESA SOUTHWEST OF THE METRO DETENTION CENTER AROUND 7 O'CLOCK THURSDAY MORNING WHEN ABOUT A THOUSAND TIRES CAUGHT FIRE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. FIRE DIVISION CHIEF CHRIS GOBER TELLS US THERE WAS A FIELD OF OIL AROUND THE TIRES, SO IT TOOK UNTIL 2 IN THE AFTERNOON TO GET THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL.
CHANNEL 13 NEWS REPORTS THE COUNTY HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET LANDOWNER A-B SWANSON TO CLEAN UP HIS PROPERTY NOW FOR YEAR. THEY SAY HE'S BEEN USING ABOUT 380 THOUSAND TIRES AS A RUBBER FENCE. THE COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MANAGER SAYS SWANSON COULD FACE A FINE OR JAIL TIME.
