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i <br /> F <br /> age <br /> aY t Z�sr� <br /> - <br /> ✓"-5 <br /> Xxn <br /> y <br /> A.ya )y <br /> 7 <br /> `a <br /> h <br /> s <br /> F <br /> xr� <br /> 6x <br /> s <br /> k <br /> I <br /> Y <br /> P <br /> i <br /> Tracy Press photo by GLENN MOORE <br /> UNHEALTHY SKIES:The sun tries to shine through the thick smoke as it crosses MacArthur Drive on Saturday afternoon. <br /> ivestgation heats up on fil e <br /> State may send owner "I'm sure other agencies will do the same." <br /> The pile that's still smoldering at Royster's prop- <br /> of tire yard cleanup bill erty is estimated at million tires, making it far <br /> the largest load of tires that has ever burned at <br /> one <br /> time in California, Lamoureux said. Cleanup costs <br /> By Rob Nelson could run into several million dollars, depending <br /> Record Stag writer • on how badly the fire hurt the environment. <br /> For now, though, Tracy and surrounding areas <br /> TRACY—The biggest tire inferno in state his- appear to have dodged a significant environmental <br /> torryy dwindled to coals Monday, allowing fire offi- bullet,authorities said.Winds drifted steadily south- <br /> ci.% to stand down from red alert and breathe a ward throughout the weekend and pushed smoke <br /> cautious sigh of relief. away from the nearest populated areas,said Roland ROYSTER: <br /> But even though the blaze that has raged since Brooks,a compliance manager for the San Joaquin Tire king. <br /> Friday at S.F. Royster'lire Disposal near Tracy con- fie, Unified Air Pollution Control District. <br /> tinues to die down, state environmental-protection In addition, temperatures were lower during <br /> officials plan to tum up the heat on Silas ChucWthe past few days than in previous weeks, tugging <br /> Royster, owner of the 30-acre tire junkyard. warmer air skyward and essentially sweeping the More fire <br /> Royster, the unofficial tire king of Tracy,was oiler- smoke particles up off the ground. <br /> ating a tire-disposal yard that was out of compliance "Someone was looking out for us with these troubles <br /> with state regulations when the blaze broke out,said meteorological conditions," said Bill Lewis, an on- <br /> Eric Lamoureux, a spokesman for the California scene coordinator for the federal Environmental • It's a <br /> Integrated Waste Management and Control Board. protection Agency. "Things could definitely have challenge <br /> Now, Royster could be held liable for cleanup been a lot worse." trying to find <br /> costs from the fire, already going on record as if conditions stay favorable, the fire is expect- new uses for <br /> one of California's all-time worst, Lamoureux said. ed to burn itself out completely during the next retired treads. <br /> "We're going after (Royster) with everything in few days, a blessing considering the size of the <br /> our power for recovery of any cleanup costs the — Page F1 <br /> state might incur from this;' Lamoureux said. Please see FIRE,Back page <br />