Bristol TN FD: Patriot Tire recycling fire caused by equipment malfunction

An initial report has been released after a major fire last in Bristol, TN at the Patriot Recycling Tire Processing Company just off of Weaver Pike. According to their initial investigations, officials with the Bristol TN Fire Department said there are no signs of negligence. Patriot handled it correctly by evacuating all their employees immediately and reporting the incident. The report says that a piece of malfunctioning equipment caused the fire, which deposited burning debris on a conveyor belt which in turn ignited the product outside the building. The sprinkler system contained the blaze inside the facility. After multiple fire units battled the blaze for hours, it was finally brought under control around 10 p.m. Thursday night.