Stop work order remains at south Lee compost site after marshal says compliance not reached

A stop-work order will remain in place at MW Horticulture Recycling in south Lee County after a fire official inspected the site for compliance Wednesday.

The order stopping the site from taking in new materials was put into place after an April 5 fire in hardwood logs. Another fire a week later burned for 10 days in compost and mulch at the horticultural materials recycling facility.

On Wednesday, Fire Marshal Steve Lennon from the San Carlos Park Fire District inspected the MW site to measure compliance with National Fire Protection Association codes and standards.

Stop Work Order by Michael Braun on Scribd

"Upon completion of the inspection the Fire Marshal determined the facility was not in compliance and as a result the Stop Work Order will remain in effect," a release from San Carlos Park Fire said. "The Stop Work Order will continue until the site is brought into fire code compliance and there is no active smoldering on the site."

Fire questions: State investigative office to probe compost fire at MW Horticulture; cause in question

Firefighters leave: San Carlos Park Fire Department ends fire-fighting operations at MW recycling facility

Neighbors worried: Crews monitor ongoing mulch fire at MW Horticulture; neighbor considers move

"We can process and sell and haul, we just can't bring in any new green waste," MW co-owner Denise Spaniak Houghtaling said when the order was first set.

The release said a re-inspection has been scheduled for May 11.

San Carlos fire said the fire marshal is currently working on an invoice for the most recent 10-day event to address the department's costs.

Houghtaling said the status meeting with San Carlos Fire was productive.

"We appreciate their input and feedback. We were extremely happy to finally have some rain but the lightning slowed our progress," she said. "We are very proud of the improvements we made to our facility and the efforts of our team. MW will continue to grind, process, screen and sell material such as organic compost, topsoil and mulch. SCFPF Chief wrote us a very complimentary letter and are humbled. We couldn’t be more proud of our team who continues to work day in and day out to achieve the goals. We look forward to meeting with SCPFD again in the near future."

Houghtaling also thanked the company's customers for their support.

Meanwhile, a state detective is investigating the two fires that burned in early April at MW.

Houghtaling has confirmed that she received a notice from the Florida Division of Fire, Arson & Explosives Investigation's Bureau of Division of Investigative & Forensic Services notifying her that a detective would look into the April 3 and April 10 fires.

"We will conduct the scene investigation, the necessary follow-up investigation and, if warranted, send charges to the local State Attorney’s Office for prosecution," Capt. Cindy Campina with the Bureau of Investigative & Forensic Services said.

"Hardwood logs do not spontaneously combust," Houghtaling said. "They are investigating both fires."

Connect with breaking news reporter Michael Braun: MichaelBraunNP (Facebook), @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter) or mbraun@news-press.com.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: San Carlos Park fire marshal finds compliance issues at compost site