NORTH PORT — Firefighters are battling a mulch fire in North Port Estates, on the north side of the city off Tropicaire Boulevard. According to North Port Fire Rescue, a call came in around 5:45 a.m. Monday reporting a fire in the mulch pit on Joe Jeff Street. Fire crews were on scene within 15 minutes to fight a fire approximately three-fourths of an acre in size.

“This particular location had a large mulch fire about seven years ago, which took almost a week to extinguish,” said North Port Fire Marshal Michael Frantz. “Because the mulch pits are not as large, and the pile is divided into sections, fire crews do not anticipate it taking as long to extinguish this one. But because of the depth of the mulch, as much as 15 feet in some areas, it will take several hours to penetrate the pile enough to soak it with water.” A fire engine from Charlotte County, an engine and a water tanker from Sarasota County, and a Sarasota Sheriff’s helicopter, which is dropping water from the air, are all assisting North Port, Frantz said.