IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. — The Ridge Culver Fire District says they respond to either a grass fire or mulch fire just about every day this past month — the latest coming Friday morning outside a plaza on East Ridge Road in Irondequoit.
Three burned out bushes and three cracked windows, that's what's left after a mulch fire outside the Ontario Mall Antique Store.
"We had a pretty good fire when we got here this morning. It could've been a lot worse if that glass failed," said Capt. Mark Thomas, Ridge Culver Fire Department.
Thomas says poorly discarded smoking materials is the number one reason for mulch and grass fires. He found five discarded cigarettes outside this one business, some in the mulch.
"People take their last drag on a cigarette before they go back in the building, and this is a nice dry mulch since we've had no rain for weeks. Put a discarded cigarette in the proper receptacle," Thomas said.
A good reminder for smokers to be more aware of how and where they toss their cigarettes any time, but especially in these dry conditions.