Mulch Fire Burns Outside of East Windsor House
Firefighters responded within four minutes of being dispatched to the call.
A mulch fire that extended to an East Windsor house Tuesday afternoon could have been worse if firefighters did not arrive as quickly as they did, according a fire official.
Fire crews were on scene within four minutes of being dispatched at 2:50 p.m. to the Pierce Road fire, said Hightstown Engine Company Deputy Chief Scott Jenkins. The blaze appeared to have started in the mulch next to the house, and then caught the siding on fire.
“It was extinguished in time before it reached the interior of the house,” Jenkins said. “If it would have had more time it could have burned through the house.”
Firefighters watered down the mulch around the house to help prevent it from reigniting, Jenkins said. The fire remains under investigation.
Hightstown Engine Company and East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company #1 were at the scene and there were no injuries, Jenkins said.
In This article
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Hightstown Engine Co. #1
140 N Main St, Hightstown, NJ -
East Windsor Fire Co. #1
51 One Mile Rd Ext, East Windsor, NJ
whatever41
2:00 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Spontaneous Combustion,, A substance with a relatively low ignition temperature (hay, straw, peat, etc.) begins to release heat. This may occur in several ways, usually oxidation by a little moisture & air, bacterial fermentation generates heat.
The heat is unable to escape (hay, straw, peat, etc. are good thermal insulators), and the temperature of the material rises.
The temperature of the material rises above its ignition point (even though much of the bacteria are destroyed by ignition temperatures).
Combustion begins if sufficient oxidizer, such as oxygen, & fuel are present to maintain the reaction into thermal run-away.
Don't put a mound of mulch next to your home.