A large mulch fire is burning on land owned by the Jones Mining company in eastern Collier County.
"Our crews arrived on scene to find a mulch pile approximately the size of a football field, fully consumed in flames," North Collier Fire Assistant Chief Eric Watson said no one was hurt and no homes were threatened as a result of the fire.
Because the fire was too large for crews to handle, they left the scene.
"I don't want to use the word 'impossible' to extinguish, but it takes a significant amount of manpower, resources and ultimately water to extinguish that fire," said Watson.
Not even a late afternoon downpour could snuff out the flames. Backhoes from the company that runs the composting farm were turning over mulch to try and put out the fire.
"We'll send crews out routinely for the next few days, with their progress with regards to extinguishing the fire, and make sure the fire doesn't jump any barrier lines that have been established," said Watson.
Lightning and even combustion of the mulch haven't been ruled out as causes of the fire.
