Fire Department

Engine Company 9 was dispatched to the Village of Shorewood Hills after a pile of wood chips approximately 10 feet tall was found to be steaming and warm to the touch. Although there were no signs of smoke or fire, firefighters took a closer look and found the pile to be warm throughout, with a thermal imaging camera detecting temperatures around 70-95 degrees.

As Engine 9 pulled its bumper line and sprayed 375 gallons of water and foam onto the wood chips, an end loader was called in to spread the wood chips apart and cool them down. Firefighters also cooled a second, smaller pile of wood chips using the remaining 125 gallons of water in their tank.

Engine 9 advised Department of Public Works staff to spread the 10-foot pile of wet chips into a formation just 2-3 feet high to reduce the chances of combustion.

No other ignition sources were found, and foul play was not believed to be a factor.