A tire fire outside a rubber mulch manufacturer in Niles took fire personnel from seven departments to put out Saturday morning.

According to Niles City Fire Chief Larry Lamb, his department was called to a fire at Treadway Inc., located at 1720 Terminal Road just before 5 a.m. Saturday.

“We responded initially and went to a second alarm right off the bat,” Lamb said.

The chief said it is difficult for tires to catch fire, but once they do, the blaze spreads quickly and due to the extreme heat, is difficult to put out.

Lamb said Treadway Inc. manufactures rubber mulch like the kind used on playgrounds by grinding dense rubber tires from forklifts and the like.

“The towers of tires had not been through that process yet and were basically stockpiled outside,” Lamb said. “Our fear was that the fire was closer to the building. There were a lot of things we had to do to make sure it didn’t spread in there.”

Lamb said the last employees to leave left around 3 a.m., approximately two hours before the fire. The building was empty at the time of the blaze and nobody was injured.

Clay Township responded to the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System call with a fire engine and a ladder. Niles Township sent two engines, Buchanan City and Bertrand Township each sent a fire engine and Dowagiac sent a ladder. The Edwardsburg Fire Department covered the Niles City fire station while fire fighters worked to put out the blaze, which was extinguished by 10 a.m., Lamb said.

“The Niles Street Department brought in a loader and helped us separate the tires that were exposed from the fire. SMCAS also assisted,” Lamb said. “It was a real team effort.”

The chief said approximately four members per unit typically respond to a MABAS call, ensuring that no department is left uncovered in case a fire breaks out in its own territory.