Fire Department

An Arkansas Ave. homeowner says he’s been using his compost pile as a depository for his spent fire pit ash for years, and he did so again Sunday-- a full day after enjoying a fire in his backyard Saturday afternoon.
 
But only ten minutes after dumping the spent materials into the compost pile containing mostly leaves, pine needles, pine cones and dirt, a fire ignited and spread onto the grass.
 
The man called 911, and Engine 10 arrived shortly thereafter. Firefighters initially used their water can to control the spread of the fire but ultimately pulled a hose from the engine’s front bumper to kill the rest of the fire. Once it was knocked down, Engine 10 overhauled existing hot spots to ensure the fire couldn't start up again.
 
Ashes can re-ignite up to 72 hours after use. Be sure to wait until they’re completely extinguished before disposing of them in a dumpster or compost pile.