It’s early in the investigation, but so far the North Bay Fire Department believes the electrical system was behind a fire at Junior’s Tirecraft shop at 1524 Cholette Street.
Greg Saunders, the department’s Deputy Fire Chief, add despite the suspected cause, the investigation continues.
Saunders says the fire injured three firefighters but all three are expected to recover.
The fire broke out around Friday 7:00pm with crews from all three stations responding to the business fire.
Saunders says there was no one in the building and damage is extensive.
Saunders says tire fires create additional challenges for firefighters because the thick dark smoke from them contains cyanide, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide.
In addition, Saunders says tire fires are difficult to extinguish because they continue to smoulder and are very difficult to cool down because of the intense heat they generate.
In the case of the Tirecraft fire, the fire squads hit the burning tires with foam which smothers the flames by depriving the fire of oxygen.
Saunders adds the firefighters also had their self-contained breathing apparatus on to make sure they wouldn’t breathe in the noxious gasses emitted by the burning tires.
