RICHMOND — The mulch fire at Richmond Sand and Gravel continued to burn Monday, although not as much as on Sunday, as the owners of the mulch and the land worked to extinguish it.

Hope Valley Wyoming Fire District Chief Frederick Stanley said Monday that the Fire Department was going back and forth to help with flare-ups, but the fire was being handled mostly by the owners. The Oldcastle Lawn and Garden Co., which owns the mulch and leases the land, and Richmond Sand and Gravel, which owns the land, had equipment at the Stilson Road property to break up the piles and put out the flames.

The fire, which started early Sunday afternoon, clouded the area with thick, white smoke that necessitated closing nearby Route 95 for a time. Smoke also wafted into the Richmond shopping center and nearby homes, although no property was threatened.

A dozen fire districts fought the blaze Sunday and pumped 300,000 gallons of water, according to Stanley. The Richmond Water Department turned on an extra pump so that water pressure was not affected.

Two ambulance companies were also on hand and a mass-casualty trailer was set up in case of problems from the heavy smoke. Firefighters wore breathing apparatus, Stanley said.

“Stuff was blowing all over the place,” Stanley said. “The smoke was so heavy we couldn’t tell how many piles they had.” Stanley said that he suffered a minor burn when, before he could put on his helmet, a burning ember hit the top of his head. “It’s not the most pleasant smoke to smell either,” he said.

Stanley said that the state fire marshal was investigating the cause of the fire, and the state Department of Environmental Management was looking into whether the 70-foot-high mulch pile was taller than allowed.

It will probably take a day or two to break up the piles and extinguish the fire, the chief said.

— Staff report