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When the weather begins to get warmer, residents and businesses begin their seasonal landscaping projects. One of the most popular tasks is the laying of fresh mulch in garden beds, building borders, outdoor play areas, and decorative barriers and dividers. Mulch comes in many forms, from pine needles and grass or hay, to wood chips and shavings, to recycled, shredded rubber. Numerous independent tests conducted in the past several years have demonstrated that all types of mulch are flammable, though some burn more rapidly and fiercely than others. Across the country, thousands of mulch fires are reported to local fire departments every year, and discarded smoking materials account for nearly half of those fires.
In order to protect your homes and businesses, the following steps should be taken when planning for your seasonal mulch placement:
<ul>
<li>Keep a minimum of 18 inches between any mulch bed and combustible building materials (such as siding, fences, and decking); this space can be filled with decorative gravel, pavers, or other non-flammable materials</li>
<li>Mulch should be kept moist when possible, given weather conditions and water availability</li>
<li>Dispose of smoking materials in a metal or other non-combustible container; extinguish all smoking materials in sand or water prior to disposal</li>
<li>Use caution when burning in an outdoor fireplace or fire pit; hot embers or ashes can travel and ignite remote mulch beds</li>
<li>Shredded rubber and shredded red cedar mulches are extremely flammable and should not be used within 30 feet of any building</li>
<li>Large piles of mulch can spontaneously combust; monitor internal temperature if any large piles will be on your property for an extended period of time.</li>
</ul>
https://www.turfscapeohio.com/blog/prevent-common-mulch-fire

Idea Notes:

As we know,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oakfire.net/mulch">mulch</a>&nbsp;is any material placed atop soil in a garden to enhance the wellbeing of both the soil and plants. It may be organic or inorganic. In our last post, we looked at the benefits of using mulch &ndash; today we address safety issues inherent in its use.
Inorganic mulches include geotextile matting, pebbles, landscape fabrics and plastic mulches. These deteriorate over time, are tedious to install, limit the penetration of water to the soil, and rarely look natural or aesthetically pleasing.
<a href="https://www.oakfire.net/mulch">Organic mulch</a>&nbsp;is a much superior product. Organic mulch is derived from natural plant materials that naturally decompose with the passing of time. During the decomposition process, organic matter and nutrients are added to the soil, and beneficial fungi and bacteria are enhanced in the soil. Pathogens which cause disease in plants are inhibited.
There are many types of organic mulch, and these include shredded bark, hay, sawdust, cocoa shells, grass clippings, leaves, and compost.
It is important to know that mulches, soils, compost, and potting mixes can be harmful to human health if not handled safely. This is due to the potential presence of the microorganism&nbsp;Legionella,&nbsp;which can cause pneumonia and other serious illnesses in humans if the organism is inhaled or transferred from hand to mouth; there are also serious implications if bacteria enter the body via a cut on the skin (tetanus infection can result from soil exposure in unvaccinated people).
Legionella&nbsp;cannot be transmitted person to person, or from animal to human. If&nbsp;Legionella&nbsp;infection occurs, it will do so after between two and ten days from exposure. Symptoms may include chills, fever, cough, aching, appetite loss, tiredness, and gastrointestinal upset. Medical attention is required as this is a serious disease which can be fatal if not treated promptly. If treated quickly and properly, it is quite simple to cure. Some people will only experience a minor illness; severity depends on age, severity of infection, and general health and immune response.
How to Handle Mulch Safely and Avoid&nbsp;Legionella&nbsp;Infection
<ul>
<li>Always wear gardening gloves</li>
<li>Avoid inhaling any of the mix</li>
<li>Keep compost and potting mix damp when using it</li>
<li>Always wash hands well after gardening</li>
</ul>
Many people are potentially exposed to this organism when gardening, yet very few develop&nbsp;legionella&nbsp;infection. With these simple precautions,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oakfire.net/mulch">mulch</a> and compost are very safe to use and can only enhance the health and appearance of your garden.