Mulch Fire Prevention

When the weather is hot and dry, and the flower and tree beds look great, homeowners and fire fighters routinely deal with mulch fires, big and small.

The problem is mulch can ignite under certain conditions.

Most mulch is usually made up of wood chips, bark or leaves.  Why would it catch fire?  The science is the mulch decomposes over time.  Decomposition produces heat.  That heat can be trapped in deep mulch piles.  Without anywhere to vent, the trapped heat gets hotter and hotter until a spark ignites a fire.  You may not see the fire immediately,  It may smolder in the mulch for hours, or even days, until it becomes visible.

Here are safety tips from the fire prevention and gardening pros on how to mulch safely:

• Mulch layers should be between 2 and 4 inches deep.  Any more than 4 inches of mulch is more likely to trap heat while decomposing
• Keep mulch at least 18 inches away from outdoor grills, wood decks, buildings, and wood structures (like fences)
• Water mulch in hot dry weather
• Never discard a cigarette in or near mulch
• Check mulch regularly for signs of smoldering material
• Rubber mulch is less likely to catch fire under normal circumstances, but when it does, it produces toxic smoke.

Information Links

Garden Bible
Fire Wise Fact Sheet