Clearing the Air – Update on Mulch Pile

We appreciate the concerns of neighbors regarding the spontaneous combustion of the large mulch pile located near the intersection of Tower Terrace and Edgewood Road. We wanted to assure you that the owner of this property is not intentionally setting these fires, as spontaneous combustion is an act of nature. The owner has been in contact with the City, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Linn County Public Health Air Quality to assure that he is properly maintaining the site. Linn County Public Health Air Quality and Hiawatha Fire Department are actively monitoring the situation and mitigating the pile when it burns. The contractor has developed a plan to control the fire, minimize smoke and mitigate the possibility of more fires. Meanwhile, he is taking steps to move chips from the property and create compost from the remaining chips. Thank you for your understanding as we do our best to address the situation.