WKSU News: Bitter weather hampers effort to fight a massive fire at a Stark rubber plant

Wednesday, January 20, 2016 Bitter weather hampers effort to fight a massive fire at a Stark rubber plant Stark County firefighters battle Tristan Rubber Molding blaze despite temperatures in the single digits by WKSU's JEFF ST. CLAIR	Reporter / Host Jeff St. Clair

A fire Tuesday morning destroyed Tristan Rubber Molding's facility in Jackson Township. Cold weather was a factor in the response as freezing water hampered fire fighting efforts.

Courtesy of Cliff Franks

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Cold weather was a factor today in efforts to battle a blaze at a rubber facility in northern Stark County's busy commercial district.

The thick, black smoke that greeted firefighters yesterday morning was also visible to drivers along I-77.

Jackson Township Fire Captain Seth Rieger told WKYC temperatures in the single digits made fighting the flames a challenge.

LISTEN: Rieger on fighting fires in the cold

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“We always have issues when it’s this cold with the water freezing -- a lot of water on the ground. I’ve already seen a firefighter fall. We’re getting wet. Buttons on our radios freeze shut and won’t press. I’ve had issues with my mask and my air pack freezing up, so it’s just constant,” says Rieger.

About 20 employees were on duty when the fire broke out at the facility around 9 Tuesday morning. The fire is believed to have started in a wall, then burst through the roof.

No injuries were reported.

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