A Trackhoe spreads burning mulch at Shomaker Lumber as firefighters stand by to wet the burning debris.

MCKENZIE – McKenzie Firefighters spent eight hours Sunday and several hours Monday morning battling a fire in a giant pile of wood mulch at Shomaker Lumber Company, located on State Route 22 north.

Brian Tucker, chief of the McKenzie Fire Department said the mulch ignited through spontaneous combustion.

Firefighters established the fire pumper at the McKenzie Recreation Park and pumped water to the burning mulch, located just over the fence dividing the park and the lumber company.

Joe Perkins operates a fire pumper in this night photo as a tanker truck backs to dump water into the portable tank.

The MFD used two tankers to shuttle water to a portable water tank, which supplied the pumper.

Ronnie and R.C. Shomaker assisted by using a trackhoe to spread the burning mulch. Nothing else was damaged in the fire.

Firefighters responded Sunday morning and remained six hours, returned Sunday afternoon for two hours, and again Monday morning.

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