SWFL Mulch company says recent fires set on purpose

The owners of MW Horticulture say they believe a string of recent fires at their North Fort Myers property were set on purpose.

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS ..

FROM YOU.4 IN YOUR CORNER COVERAGE ONW-F-T-X STARTS NOW.THE OWNERS OF A LOCAL COMPOSTAND MULCH COMPANY SAY -- THEYDON’T THINK THE RECENT DRYWEATHER IS BEHIND A STRING OFFIRES AT THEIR FACILITY.

THEYTHINK -- A PERSON IS TO BLAME.HELLO I’M JANE MONREAL LIVE ATthe FORT MYERS YACHT BASIN.I’M PATRICK NOLAN.

4 IN YOURCORNER’S ROCHELLE ALLEYNE SPOKETO M-W HORTICULTURE WHO SUSPECTSTHERE’S A DARK MOTIVE BEHIND THESERIES OF MYSTERIOUS FIRES ATTHE BUSINESS.14WHEN IT COMES TO SUNDAY’S FIREAT M-W HORTICULTURE’S NORTH FORTMYERS PROPERTY--((Denise Houghtaling//MWHorticulture VP))((cover with fire video))"What happened here this pastweek doesn’t make any sense."THE OWNER SAYS THINGS AREN’TADDING UP.((Denise Houghtaling//MWHorticulture VP))"Our temperatures weren’trising, the materials thatcaught on fire was brand newmaterial that was just broughtin.

So it wasn’t just an oldpile that was sitting there."THE COMPANY SPECIALIZES INORGANIC SOILS AND MULCH -- WHICHTHEY SAY NEEDS TO SIT AND GETHOT -- TO BE USEFUL TO THECUSTOMER.BUT IN A STATE LIKE FLORIDA --SOMETIMES THINGS CAN GET ALITTLE TOO HOT OUT THERE.((Larry Nesbit//Bayshore FireChief))"For the last three years we’vehad a fire out at that facilityabout this time each year."BOTH THE COMPANY AND THEBAYSHORE FIRE DEPARTMENT AGREETHAT THIS IS THE BEST WAY TOKEEP FIRES FROM SPREADING OUT INTHOSE PILES.((Larry Nesbit//Bayshore FireChief))"Rotate the material to allowthe heat to escape and to allowthe temperature to come down."THE PROBLEM IS -- THE COMPANYSAYS THEY’VE **BEEN DOING THIS-- AND YET THERE’S *still BEENAT LEAST FOUR FIRES AT THATLOCATION OVER THE LAST YEAR.RIGHT NOW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT*IS INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OFSUNDAY’S FIRE.AND WHILE THE CHIEF’S NOT TOOSURE THERE’S SOMETHING FISHY ATPLAY --((Larry Nesbit//Bayshore FireChief))"At this time we don’t believethere was any wrongdoing at thistime."THE OWNERS SAY SUNDAY’S FIRE --AND *THIS HARDWOOD FIRE FROMFEBRUARY -- POINT TO ARSON.((Denise Houghtaling//MWHorticulture VP))Hardwood just doesn’t ignite onits own."AND THEY TELL FOX 4 --THEY THINKTHEY KNOW WHO DID IT -- BUTTHEY’RE NOT SURE WHY.((Denise S.

Houghtaling//MWHorticulture VP))"We believe we have a prettygood suspect."WHILE THEY WORK OUT THOSEDETAILS -- THE OWNERS also TELLUS THEY’RE HOPING TO BEEF UPSECURITY.((Denise Houghtaling//MWHorticulture VP))"We’re looking into all thoseavenues of how we can pr