LINCOLN, Del. — The Ellendale Fire Company and Sussex County Department of Public Safety are monitoring smoke conditions in the Lincoln area after a large debris pile caught fire at a construction site on Clendaniel Pond Road that began Feb.23.
The fire began when trees, brush and other materials cleared for the new Cypress Estates housing development were pushed into several piles. One of those piles built up enough heat to ignite and has been smoldering for several days says first responders.
Ellendale firefighters responded to the site, using an on-site loader to help contain the flames while extinguishing exterior hot spots with handlines and a deck gun. (Ellendale Fire Company)
Ellendale firefighters responded to the site, using an on-site loader to help contain the flames while extinguishing exterior hot spots with handlines and a deck gun. Although the fire was largely put out, deep-seated areas continue to smolder.
DNREC is now managing the site, conducting air monitoring and assessing the situation. Smoke has been reported as far as Bayhealth Sussex Campus. Fire officials and contractors will continue monitoring the area, with plans to pull apart the pile for further extinguishment.
One of those piles built up enough heat to ignite and has been smoldering for several days says first responders. (Ellendale Fire Company)
From Mark Hansman's driveway, you can see smoke coming from a burning pile of mulch in Lincoln.
A shot of the burning pile of mulch from a driveway in Lincoln.
The site has been cleared out for a new housing development called Cypress Estates and has been burning for several days. Hansman was one of the first people to call the police.
"I wake up around midnight and I look out my back window and the thing is completely on fire, top of it is on fire and nobody's out there and there's a lot of woods around here. I don't want the woods to catch on fire so I called the fire department," said Hansman
Jay Jones, public information officer for the Ellendale Fire Company, says they've been out to the site multiple times after multiple calls to police.
Jones assures the community that the fire is under control.
"It's not uncommon for a pile that size to draw up enough heat. It is contained as you see it's still burning over the last five days. It's been turned over to DNREC who's monitoring the air quality and developers pulling that pile apart," said Jones.
In a statement to CoastTV, DNREC says "The fire broke out by spontaneously combusting inside a large mulch pile created when ground was being cleared for a planned development in the area. Delaware Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit responded to what was reported as 'open burning,' though it was quickly determined that spontaneous combustion had occurred, much like what happens with a hay bale fire, and that the fire was not intentional. DNREC would also clarify that the fire did not start on a construction site, as no construction has yet begun there – the fire consisted only of the mulch that has been cleared for future development. The Ellendale Fire Company responded Thursday to the initial reports of an open burning fire, and extinguished evident flames. The Delaware Forest Service provided guidance to the contractor to spread out the smoldering mulch pile at a depth of 12 to 24 inches so that it could be more effectively extinguished. DNRP ECU officers were onsite today monitoring the situation, assisting the DNREC Division of Air Quality in ensuring air quality readings in the area were within safe levels and posed no risk to public health.”
Intentional or not, Hansman says something needs to be done.
"I don't want to interrupt them but they've got to put that thing out once and for all. It's got to be done."
A sentiment many who live on Clendaniel Pond Road share.
Jones advised that there is no need to call 911 if you see smoke, as it is being actively managed and action will be taken as necessary.
