Thousands Of Tires Dumped In Residential Neighborhood

Residents in one neighborhood say someone has left thousands of tires on an abandoned mobile home property. People who live nearby say the mosquito problems have made their lives a nightmare and they're worried the tires may catch fire.

Richard Bishop showed Channel 2 Action News reporter Tom Regan the mountain of tires that are making his life in Gordon County miserable. Perhaps 5,000 tires are rotting in the sun and breeding armies of mosquitoes.

"It's just a health factor. I got cattle here, employees here, residents here. You can't stand here with the mosquitoes...they're terrible," said Bishop.

Bishop said six months ago, a man moved into a mobile home on the property and began trucking in tires, with plans to start a tire recycling business. But, he apparently didn't do his homework. The property cannot be zoned for a tire recycling operation.

Bishop said the man was cited for code violations, but failed to show up in court.

SLIDESHOW: Tires Dumped In Yard TOM REGAN: Thousands Of Tires Dumped In Residential Neighborhood

Meantime, Bishop has moved more than 150 head of cattle off his farm for fear they could be poisoned by toxic runoff from the tire dump.

"The stream was polluted downstream with diesel fuel and I showed the diesel fuel to the EPA officer," said Bishop. "He sprayed it on the tires trying to get rid of the mosquitoes."

Bishop said he's also worried the tires may catch fire. Just a couple weeks ago, a tractor-trailer on a road to the property went up in flames -- it was also loaded with tires.

"I'm worried about the kids, getting up there. We told the man that my husband would haul it off, but he wouldn't give him permission," said resident Teresa Abernathy. "I think he needs to come back and clean this mess up."

Regan placed calls into the Gordon County Code Enforcement Office to try to track down the property owner, but neighbors believe he has moved out of state.