Mulch fire contained at hockey arena site
Crews from Tempe, Phoenix and Scottsdale fought a fire Wednesday just west of Tempe Town Lake, where the Arizona Coyotes hope to build a hockey arena and entertainment district.
The fire at the city compost yard near Rio Salado and Priest Drive was reported around 10 a.m., said Andrea Glass, a Tempe assistant fire chief.
She said crews found mulch on fire at the west end of the site, and flames had started to spread east.
Crews separated the mulch piles and contained the fire by late afternoon, although it was expected to continue to smolder through the night, she said.
These types of fires can sometimes take days to completely put out because of the way mulch burns, Glass said.
No injuries were reported and it's still unclear what caused the fire.
The rising temperatures can make such fires more likely as the mulch dries out and starts burning, Glass said.
The 46 acres near the dry Salt River house the city's public works, compost yard and recycling services. The area was previously used as a sand and gravel mine and a dump.
Sky Harbor air traffic unaffected
The site is under Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport's flight path, but the smoke from the fire did not interfere with air traffic, according to airport spokesperson Frankie McLister.
The land's proximity to Sky Harbor has caused concerns for airport officials related to the Coyotes' proposal to build an arena, apartments and other development on the 46 acres. The proposal is under review by the Tempe City Council.
The land is near the runways, which account for 68% of Sky Harbor's flight activity and 95% of the departures.