Local volunteer firefighters responded twice on the morning of Monday, November 11, to reports of a mulch fire on a lot off Button Shop Road in Botsford, where an earth materials firm processes the chopped wood substance.

Botsford Fire Rescue Company Chief Andrew White said November 11 that earlier that day, at 4:54 am, Botsford and Sandy Hook volunteer firefighters responded to a report of mulch fire underway in that area. Also, Botsford firefighters returned to the scene at 8:38 am that day. There were no injuries.

Botsford firefighters learned that the firm that processes mulch there has access to a water supply at the site, which would help it control the smoldering fire, the chief said. Besides applying water, extinguishing such fires requires that the smoldering mulch be physically pulled apart.

The site was the scene of a similar mulch fire “a couple of years ago,” according to Chief White.

Mulch is used for several purposes, including conserving moisture in the soil, retarding weed growth, and helping control soil temperature.

When large mulch piles ignite and burn as a smoldering fire, it typically is due to spontaneous combustion, according to Fire Marshal Rich Frampton.

The compacted, flammable wood chips deposited in large piles generate heat due to rapid oxidation. That heat can lead to the flammable substance catching fire and smoldering.

Over the years, such fires also have occurred when large mulch piles ignited at the town’s closed landfill off Ethan Allen Road. Mulch piles there are composed of wood chips created from fallen and cut trees.