A massive mulch fire at a factory storage yard on Detroit's west side is pushing smoke across the city and over the border into the Windsor area. That's what's behind the burning smell in the air Wednesday morning. Detroit Fire Department Chief James C. Harris said it broke out at Detroit Mulch on Prairie Street around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, and it's expected to burn for a while. "I'd say it's the size of six football fields," Harris told CBC News. It's unclear at this point how the fire started. He's encouraging people in Detroit and Windsor to shut their windows. "The wind could change direction at any point." Harris said they've been rotating through approximately 15 crews and fighting the fire for more than 12 consecutive hours, as of 8 a.m. Wednesday. He said some of the mulch piles are "substantial" and high, making it difficult for crews to put out. The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) says air pollution, regardless of its source, poses significant health risks. In a statement, the health unit says it's monitoring the fire situation, and as of 11 a.m. Windsor's Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) was at a level of five, indicating a moderate health risk. Dr. Mehdi Aloosh, the local medical officer of health, says at-risk groups, such as seniors and people with underlying diseases such as lung and heart conditions, should consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous activities outdoors if they are experiencing symptoms.

Detroit Mulch Fire Impacting Air Quality

The fire started Tuesday evening at Detroit Mulch Co., 14300 Prairie, on the city's west side. "Crews have been on scene obviously for almost 24 hours," said Detroit Fire Department Deputy Chief Dan Clapp. "We cycle our crews every 2-3 hours to keep them refreshed and energized and to not endanger their safety. To date, we have had about 30 fire companies rotate through and about 120 firefighters, and that cycle is going to continue until the fire is put out." The fire is under control, Harris told the Free Press early Wednesday, but how long it will burn is difficult to predict with shifting winds and smoldering embers. "Pray for us, keep us in your thoughts," he said. "And try not to come around and see what’s going on." The fire is under control, but prone to rekindling because of deep-seated embers. The smoke has affected the air quality "a little bit," Harris said, but not enough to order evacuations. "We would suggest anybody in the area to keep their windows closed," Harris said, urging folks to take precautions not to breathe in the soot-filled air. Residents, especially those sensitive to poor air quality, could consider wearing a face mask, he said. It is unclear, Harris said, how, exactly, the fire started and whether it was an accident or deliberate. "We can’t confirm either way," Harris said, adding that even though the fire is in the city, it, in some ways, is acting more like a forest fire, as the large piles of the ground-up wood, some as high as two or three stories — burn. "At this time, we don’t have any leads, we don’t have any clues, nobody has said anything," the chief said about how the blaze might have begun. "But we probably won’t really be able to focus on our investigation of it until we extinguish the fire."

Detroit Mulch Fire Impacting Air Quality in Windsor, Too

Many people in Windsor-Essex woke up to the strong smell of smoke on Wednesday morning. "I smelled that earlier this morning, but now I can't," said Windsor resident, Don Caston. "It was just like burning wood, like a campfire." Maureen Thompson said, "I could smell it from my back porch. I thought somebody was having a fire in our neighborhood, which they can't. And I was like, where then?" Christine Drouillard said the smell of smoke was strong in Amherstburg, initially assuming a farmer nearby was burning something. "I didn't think anything of it," Drouillard said. "It's the same as living near a campground with everyone having a bonfire." Others like Douglas Weeks, in downtown Windsor, said they were concerned about Windsor's air quality, "I can still smell it," Weeks explained. "I've been keeping my windows shut. I'm just wondering toxicity of all that smoke." The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) said officials are monitoring air quality every hour, noting air pollution can pose significant health risks. "We have been in touch with our counterparts in the in U.S., in Detroit departments," said Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Mehdi Aloosh. Aloosh told CTV News that Windsor's air quality was at its worst Wednesday at 8 a.m., but that it had gradually improved to normal levels throughout the day. "Things might change. The wind might change. And we will let, our community know about this. Significant risk, at the moment, the risk is very low." Aloosh suggested that anyone with air quality health concerns should stay inside and close their windows, adding people can keep track of air quality themselves with a number of various mobile apps. "I think that the most important lesson from this is that we are connected at a global level in different ways. With the air that we breathe, with water that we drink and we share with food chains. It reminds us we are connected and we should watch around us to see what are the health hazards. Work and collaborate with other partners to ensure that everyone is safe in our community."

Detroit Mulch Fire: A Reminder of Our Connection

The mulch fire is a reminder of the fragility of our environment and the importance of air quality. The smoke from the fire has affected the air quality in Detroit and Windsor, and has prompted health concerns for residents. The fire also highlights the interconnectedness of our communities and the importance of working together to address environmental issues. The Detroit Fire Department has been working tirelessly to extinguish the fire and ensure the safety of residents. The WECHU is monitoring the air quality and providing updates to the public. The fire is expected to burn for several days, and residents are advised to keep their windows closed and avoid strenuous outdoor activities. The mulch fire is a reminder of the need to be mindful of our environment and to take steps to protect our air quality.