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Mulch fire in city parking lot

By Billie Owens

A mulch fire is reported in the parking lot at Save-A-Lot in the city. That's at the corner of Jackson and Ellicott streets. City fire is on scene.

UPDATE 4:01 p.m.: The call to dispatch was made by DPW.

UPDATE 4:04 p.m.: Fire commands reports mulch fire was out upon their arrival. The assignment is back in service.

UPDATE (By Howard): Fire started by a discarded cigarette, apparently. A passerby stomped it out before fire crews arrived.

Jason Crater

REAL AMERICAN HEROES!!!

Thank you, Mr. Cigarette stomper outer. You did the work of 11 public employees. You weren't afraid to get ashes and black mulch on the bottom of your shoe. You put yourself out there for the betterment of the community.

To you sir, we all raise our glass.

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May 19, 2014, 8:28pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

I agree with Dave...Did we really need to call the fire dept..Some one on the street with no fire training puts out a mulch fire and the DPW does nothing..

May 19, 2014, 10:45pm Permalink
RICHARD L. HALE

A discarded cigarette? Must have been a rich person......and don't go too hard on the DPW guys and gals.....it's just the "It's not my job" syndrome. And Tom H....you would have been cited for "Indecent extinguishing of a fire". And your feelings probably would have been hurt, when the bystanders started pointing and giggling!!

May 20, 2014, 12:24am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

I'm not sure what Billie heard ... I heard the first dispatch and didn't hear any mention of DPW ... there could have been something else mentioned after I left the office, I don't know ... if DPW was involved, it was only in passing because they were no where around at all when I arrived on scene.

Of course, if DPW had stopped to put out the fire, people would be bitching that they weren't fixing a pothole instead or making the benches face "the right way" or something.

May 20, 2014, 12:45am Permalink
Billie Owens

I heard the dispatcher say "for your advisement sir, the call came from DPW." This was right after the initial dispatch to the fire department.

May 20, 2014, 11:44am Permalink

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