VIDEO: If you saw a plume of smoke all day Wednesday in Mesa, it was a mulch fire that started in the morning and was finally brought under control around midnight. The fire at CTS Greenways Recycling on Sossaman Road near the Loop 202 began around 9 a.m. and while Rural Metro Fire confirmed the fire has been contained, it could smolder for days. Investigators believe spontaneous combustion sparked the flames.
Matt Pace, a meteorologist at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality joined Good Morning Arizona to discuss air quality concerns around the Valley. He says it’s not uncommon to see smoky skies like this linger around. “Some of that smoke does loop back down, and make it to the ground.” Still, the department notes that air quality shouldn’t be much of a concern for Maricopa County residents.