Log in

Environment

Mulch fire causes smoky, smelly skies in Southwest Valley

Fire is contained but could burn for days, officials say

Posted 9/9/20

Rural Metro Fire crews are monitoring a mulch fire at a landscaping facility near Dysart Road and Butler Avenue in unincorporated Glendale that could burn for several days.

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor
Environment

Mulch fire causes smoky, smelly skies in Southwest Valley

Fire is contained but could burn for days, officials say

Posted

Rural Metro Fire crews are monitoring a mulch fire at a landscaping facility near Dysart Road and Butler Avenue in unincorporated Glendale that could burn for several days.

Plumes of smoke could be seen from as far away as  Loop 303 on Wednesday, and residents throughout the Southwest Valley reported hazy skies and a pungent smell.

Rural Metro Fire Public Information Officer Shawn Gilleland said Wednesday, Sept. 9 that engine crews from Station 833 in Waddell and Station 837 in Litchfield Park were called to the site at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and spent the night fighting the fire with assistance from Phoenix and Buckeye fire departments.  Firefighters from the city of El Mirage Fire Department also responded to the fire, city spokeswoman Amber Wakeman said via email Sept. 9.

The name of the facility near Dysart RV & Boat Storage wasn’t immediately available.

As of Wednesday morning, the blaze was contained and no structures were threatened, Mr. Gilleland said, noting most of the land surrounding the facility is agricultural.

Winds were blowing south/southwest on Wednesday, and Mr. Gilleland said residents in Litchfield Park, Goodyear and Avondale could continue to see and smell the smoke for several days.

Mulch, wood and other organic debris piled as high as two stories cover about half the 100-acre site, he said.

“That material is so thick and piled so high” it’s tough to put the fire out until it burns down enough for crews to douse it, Mr. Gilleland said. He said the facility's owner had work crews on site clearing debris and putting water on the piles.

Mulch is a combination of organic materials used in landscaping. It’s applied to the surface of soil to conserve moisture, improve fertility and reduce weed growth.

This isn’t the first time that mulch piles at the site have burned. Mr. Gilleland said fires at the site are a nearly yearly occurrence.

Kelly O’Sullivan can be reached at kosullivan@newszap.com or 760-963-1697.