Crews battled a massive fire just northwest of Eppley Airfield on Wednesday.More than 40 firefighters were sent to the scene: 6508 John J. Pershing Drive.See photos from the sceneVideo: More than 40 firefighters battle tire blazeOfficials said it would take hours for the fire to be extinguished. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but a firefighter at the scene told KETV NewsWatch 7 the source was tires."The problem with this type of fire is you have a lot of void spaces from the size of the tires overlapping each other, so to get into the seed of the fire right now is the biggest obstacle," said Battalion Chief Tim McCaw.McCaw said they attacked the fire from the sky, mindful of the very air they were breathing -- this fire not only dangerous because of how long tires burn, but the toxic smoke they produce."Rubber burning is not good to inhale and definitely not good for the skin and eyes," he said.Power lines in the area proved to be a main concern as crews tried to knock down the blaze. OPPD sent crews in to de-energize nearby electrical lines.

Crews battled a massive fire just northwest of Eppley Airfield on Wednesday.

More than 40 firefighters were sent to the scene: 6508 John J. Pershing Drive.


See photos from the scene

Video: More than 40 firefighters battle tire blaze

Officials said it would take hours for the fire to be extinguished. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but a firefighter at the scene told KETV NewsWatch 7 the source was tires.

"The problem with this type of fire is you have a lot of void spaces from the size of the tires overlapping each other, so to get into the seed of the fire right now is the biggest obstacle," said Battalion Chief Tim McCaw.

McCaw said they attacked the fire from the sky, mindful of the very air they were breathing -- this fire not only dangerous because of how long tires burn, but the toxic smoke they produce.

"Rubber burning is not good to inhale and definitely not good for the skin and eyes," he said.

Power lines in the area proved to be a main concern as crews tried to knock down the blaze. OPPD sent crews in to de-energize nearby electrical lines.