Wilmington Firefighters Renew Efforts to Extinguish Smoldering Wood Chip Pile

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The Wilmington Fire Department is preparing to launch a new operation to extinguish a smoldering wood chip fire at 333 Andover St. that has been causing smoke in surrounding neighborhoods for months. The department has been monitoring the issue since mid-December, using heavy equipment and thousands of gallons of water in previous attempts to eliminate the fire, which has proven difficult to fully extinguish.

Why it matters

Mulch and wood chip fires can be challenging to fully extinguish, and the persistent smoke from this incident has impacted air quality and caused disruption for nearby residents over an extended period. The fire department's renewed efforts aim to find a solution to this ongoing issue.

The details

Fire crews first responded to the property in September after a reported fire, extinguishing visible flames in a tree line and log pile. In the following weeks, firefighters returned multiple times to address smaller flare-ups. Thermal imaging later revealed pockets of heat moving through the wood chip pile, prompting a long-term response. Crews used heavy equipment and a hydrant, turning over the material and applying more than 3.5 million gallons of water over more than 5,000 personnel hours. Although the fire was believed to be extinguished, smoke reappeared in December.

• In mid-December, the Wilmington Fire Department was first notified of the smoldering wood chip pile.
• In September, fire crews first responded to the property after a reported fire.
• In the weeks following the September incident, firefighters returned multiple times to address smaller flare-ups.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Fire officials expect to bring equipment back to the site by mid- to late next week, using the hydrant on Andover Street for what the chief described as a consistent and aggressive push to eliminate the smoke and prevent reignition.