Residents in Chatham County are raising concern about a festering fire in a large pile of mulch that is sending smoke into the air for miles, a blaze believed to have been burning for the past four days.
Fire officials say it’s possible the blaze resulted from spontaneous combustion of decaying debris that ignited because of the heat and dry conditions that have gripped the area.
The North Carolina Forestry Department and Chatham County fire fighters spent much of Sunday at the scene trying to extinguish the blaze.
The smoke began wafting to the Fearrington neighborhood on Wednesday, which prompted complaints from those who live in the area.
“I had a painter who is working on my stand and he said, 'What is burning?'" one resident said. "So, I came out and I said, 'I don’t know!”
County officials said they are aware of the issues caused by the smoke.