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rdnesday, April 5, 2000 The Re State sues for millions for tire-fire cleanup Staff and wire reports The fire started Sept. 22 when lightning at least eight companies involved in the SACRAMENTO — California's attorney ignited 6 million tires that had been waste-to-energy operation. They include general is suing landowners and attorneycompastockpiled at the site since the 1960s and Oxford Tire Recycling of Northern d in a massive fire fire that were used by a waste-to-energy company. California, Modesto Energy Limited Wes involve burned ford days in sive laus County The fire sent toxic smoke into the air, Partnership, Omega Tires Inc. and last year. melted tires into molten oil and threat- Heights II Inc. The total cost of cleaning up the ened drinking-water supplies, Lockyer The Filbins and the owners of the Westley fire site and removing remaining said. companies could not be reached 'Tuesday tires could top $20 million, Attorney The tire inferno left behind pollution because their phones had been discon- General Bill Lockyer said Tuesday. from contaminated soil and threats to nected. The civil lawsuit, filed in Stanislaus our groundwater," Lockyer said. "We The lawsuit seeks civil penalties of up County Superior Court, asks the court to want the landowners, waste-tire haulers to $3.65 million and damages of at least order the owners and related companies and waste-to-energy operators to be $2.1 million to cover the state's costs for to comply with state cleanup orders dat- responsible for cleaning up the mess, the fire. ing back to April 1998 and to restore the removing waste tires and ensuring we It also asks for penalties and damages site to its natural condition. It seeks sev- don't have another calamity." of at least $42,500 a day, dating back to eral million dollars in civil penalties and Those named in the lawsuit include last year, until state cleanup orders are damages. landowners Edward and Mary Filbin and met.