Iowa Firefighters Battle Mulch Blaze For Second Day

March 07--OSKALOOSA -- The mulch pile fire at B&B Bedding, 2245 275th St., continued to smolder Wednesday morning.

At around 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning, Oskaloosa Fire Chief Mark Neff said his crews left the scene of the fire at approximately 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and returned at about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday. Neff noted that it took several more hours of work to clean and put away equipment after that. Firefighters first arrived at the scene of the fire at around noon Tuesday.

Neff noted that there were no injuries in fighting the fire as of Wednesday morning.

"That's the biggest thing on stuff like this," said Neff. "We just try to work safe and not get anybody hurt."

On Wednesday morning, Oskaloosa Fire Department crews were attempting to manage more of the fire before winds picked up. Neff explained that a shift in the wind could cause more problems with containing the blaze.

Wednesday's weather forecast also calls for the possibility of rain, which Neff said would be welcome in fighting the fire.

"If we get some rain going, it's going to help us more than any water we could put on it," said Neff.

As far as a timeframe on putting out the fire, Neff said that, as of Wednesday morning, he doubted that the fire would be completely put out that day.

"I try to be optimistic," Neff said. "But, there's just so much fire out there."

By mid-afternoon Tuesday, Neff estimated there were 45 firefighters at the scene. Area fire departments on the scene Tuesday included What Cheer, New Sharon, Eddyville, Cedar Township, Pella and Oskaloosa, noted Neff.

Mahaska County Sheriff's Office deputies and EMTs from Mahaska Health Partnership and Mahaska County Conservation Board members were also on scene Tuesday.

Herald City Editor Andy Goodell can be reached at [email protected].

Copyright 2012 - The Oskaloosa Herald, Iowa