Another fire sparks at the MW Horticulture facility?

Another fire sparks at the MW Horticulture facility near Michael G. Rippe Parkway in south Fort Myers after firefighters spent 10 days there earlier this month as acres of mulch burned. However, the owner of the property claims the fire was not on their property, but rather past their property line, despite what the fire department says.

Crews left around 3 p.m. Wednesday after responding to the fire. The owner of MW Horticulture told The News-Press that a state detective is now investigating the two fires that burned earlier this month.

Co-owner Denise Spaniak told the paper not one, but two, state agencies are looking into how the fires started.

She said, “Hardwood logs do not spontaneously combust,” and believes the fires could be the work of an arsonist.

San Carlos Fire believes a small fire last night was a continuation of the April 10 fire – the same with Wednesday’s flames.

San Carlos Par Fire Chief David Cambareri explained, “We have two engines and a brush truck on scene mitigating a small outbreak of mulch that was reported to be on fire and smoking from a passerby on Michael G. Rippe Parkway. So, the units were here, got water on the fire fires out. We’re just mopping up right now. And then we’ll be asking for assistance from MW’s machines to help us turn some of that mulch so we can make sure it’s out.”

The detective on the case plans to visit MW Horticulture in the coming days, and depending on what’s uncovered, there s a potential for it to spark a criminal investigation.