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"It'll lceep buiwing as long as there's fiwl here to bursa." fire inspector Marty Galindo, referring to Tracy tire blaze V ar- 74) �. YJ diR Y . ^'fie• 3 . d. y Record photo by AMELITA MANES IN TRACY: The worst tire fire in county history continues to burn Saturday at Royster Tire Disposal. `Tracy Mime fim may foui air for weeks By Mike White her advice. Recon] Staff Writer A hot tip Esther Grizoffi, 69,who lives in a mobile home on South TRACY — A massive fire that According to the feder- MacArthur Drive just a half-mile is consuming 6 to S million dis- al Environmental east of the blaze, spent Friday carded tires in a vast pit south Protection Agency, tem- night in a hotel with her hus- of'T'racy is expected to continue peratures inside a burn- hand. But she returned Saturday sending thick, black clouds into ing tire pile can reach when the winds sent the smoke the air for two to three weeks, 4,500 degrees — hot further south. officials said Saturday. enough to melt steel. Still, the air outside her home Authorities say they can't was thick with the smell of burn- quench the blaze. Also, dousing ing tires and soot Floating in the the tires with water could cont- R is the worst fire fire in San air. She plans on staying in her aminate underground water sup- Joaquin County history, authori- home as long as possible. plies, said Marty Galindo, an ties gid• "But I have my bags packed;' inspector with the Stockton Fire So far, no injuries have been she added. Department who was assisting reported. Authorities said there Robert Officer, 19, and Jeremy county officials Saturday, had been no increase in [lie Officer, 17, who live just north So frrefrglrters are allowing tine number of people going to area of Grizoffi, said they had prob- blaze to burn itself out, which hospitals because of breathing lems because they both stiffer could take weeks. problems. from asthma. But they planned "'llhis is the worst nightmare Nevertheless, Dr. Karen Furst, on staying home, ready to go to terms of lire fires;" Galindo health officer for San JoAquin a motel if things turn worse. I. "It'll keep burning as long County Public Health Services, "When I came home last 'rthere'.s fuel here to burn." issued a warning that people night (Friday), there was smoke Smoke could he seen as far with chronic health problems in every direction. But it has away as Sacramento, although should stay indoors. She said died down;' leremy Officer said. the Saturday's wind was sending that anybody who experiences The blaze began about 5 p.m. the black billrnvs into the air and discomfort should leave the area. south toward Modesto. Some 11recy uvea residents took Please see FIRE,A9