Bend Fire Department responded to a reported fire in the mulch piles at Deschutes Recycling’s yard at Knott Landfill. Several large piles were found to be burning and spread by a strong north wind when crews arrived. Bend Fire stopped the spread of fire with the help of water from the departments ladder truck. This allowed us to reach all parts of the large fire.
The piles are reported to contain as much as 20,000 yards of yard debris that has been ground down into mulch. This product goes through a process of decomposition in piles to eventually create compost. During this composting process, heat is generated which helps break down the material and eliminate unwanted seeds from weeds and noxious plants. In this case, it appears the winds that picked up this afternoon as a weather front moved in a hot spot was fanned into flames and the fire spread. An estimated 2,000 yards of material appear to be effected by this fire.
Bend Fire Department helped crews from Deschutes County Department of Solid Waste (who own and operate the landfill) and Deschutes Recycling (who operate the recycling center at the landfill) to stop the immediate spread of the fire. County and Recycling employees will remain on scene throughout the night and tomorrow to continue to remove the burned material and extinguish any further hot areas in the piles. There area no reported changes to landfill or recycling center hours of operations on Friday.
