TAVARES, Fla. – Residents near Lake County’s Solid Waste Facility in Tavares may notice smoke in the coming days due to a mulch fire, according to county officials.
The county on Sunday said mulch over an area the size of a football field caught fire the day prior and was “expected to continue burning indefinitely.”
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“Lake County Fire Rescue is on site, along with the County’s Solid Waste Department. Florida Forestry Service is also at the Solid Waste Facility. Together, the entities are planning to separate burning mulch from non-burning mulch. This process removes potential ‘fuel’ from the burning mulch, slowing the fire’s progress,” the county said.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but the county said mulch piles could self-ignite as they decompose.
“There’s nothing for the surrounding communities to worry about,” Anthony Cuellar, deputy chief of Operations for Lake County Fire Rescue, said in a release. “Smoke will be a nuisance, though. We will experience smoke drift as the day and week progress. So, keep your windows and doors closed. And if you have emergency respiratory issues, call 911.”
Lake County Fire Rescue said the mulch could smolder for at least several weeks.
The Solid Waste Facility continued normal operations on Monday.