Too Mulch of a Good Thing

Piles of Decomposing Wood Chips at Recycling Center Heat Up, Ignite

A massive pile of wood mulch caught fire at the Fayette County Recycling Center on Svoboda Ln. in La Grange last week.

The pile began smoldering Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 27. La Grange Fire Chief Frank Menefee said the fire started due to heat from the decomposing mulch. Menefee said lack of rainfall this summer resulted in dry spots in the pile, which spontaneously ignited when the pile got hot enough.

On Thursday, County workers attempted to stop the smoldering by spreading out mulch with bucket loaders.

“They were trying to move it around,” Menefee said. “Air got to it and it caught fire.”

La Grange Volunteer Fire Department responded and began soaking the pile with water.

Menefee said the fire department would monitor the pile to keep it from spreading out of the mulch yard.

“It’ll probably burn for days,” Menefee said.