New mulch regulations start Saturday

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - All homeowners may want know about  a new safety regulation that affects building managers.

Mulch can be a fire hazard and the State Fire Marshal says property managers and building owners need to keep it away from their structures.

It's a staple of most gardens but according to the State Fire Marshal, mulch is combustible and dangerous.

"It is kind of surprising to me because I can't ever recall hearing of a mulch fire," said Springfield's John Hunter.

According to fire fighters, mulch fires do happen and starting Saturday new regulations will require property owners and building managers keep mulch 18 inches away from their structures.

The new safety regulations are all in response to several fires in the Commonwealth. Something Springfield Aid to the Fire Commissioner Dennis Leger told 22News is not uncommon here in Western Mass.

"There are quite a few mulch fires. They may even happen on a weekly basis here in the city and a lot of times people are putting cigarettes out in potted plants thinking it's dirt and there's a lot of moss in there and it burns, smolders for a long time then hours later we have a fire," Leger said.

Mulch can easily catch fire from improperly disposed smoking materials.

Some homeowners aren't sure we need regulations, but knowing about the dangers is a good thing.

"I think it's understandable but there's so many regulations, it's kind of excessive I think," said Jessica Bruno, Hampden.

Residential homeowners are exempt from the regulations but below are mulch safety tips.

Here are some tips for property managers and building owners on how to prevent mulch fires provided by the Fire Marshal's office:

·        Keep wood mulch 18” away from combustible exteriors of buildings such as wood or vinyl siding. Don’t put it right up against the building.

·        Use something like pea stone or crushed rock for the first 18” as a barrier around the foundation of the building.

Storage and Manufacturing of Mulch provided by the State Fire Marshal's office:

The new regulation also has safety requirements for those who store or manufacture mulch. It limits the size of mulch piles, requires a distance of 30-feet between piles, and limits the distance from the lot line to 25-feet. Large piles of mulch can easily spontaneously combust with all the heat they generate, so it’s important to be vigilant and employ good housekeeping. The distance between piles prevents a fire in one from easily spreading to another or to a building.

Permits are required to store 300+ cubic yards of mulch