NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (EYT) — Area firefighters battled to keep a blaze from spreading Sunday afternoon at Shirey Lumber along Wood Street in New Bethlehem.

The New Bethlehem Fire Company #1 responded to the scene at about 1:45 p.m. after the call came into Clarion County 911, according to Fire Chief Barry Fox.

“The fire was in a very large mulch pile, and we got it under control before it reached the woods,” Fox said. “We had quite a bit of help with Distant bringing their tanker and Hawthorn coming, so that was important.”

Fox also said the key to getting it under control was when two employees arrived and used an excavator and a bulldozer to move the pile around so firefighters could get the water on the flames.

“Without them, it would have just continued to burn underneath. Putting water on top of the pile just hardens it and makes it even tougher to put it out.”

Fox said the fire started due to heat buildup from the mulch pile material being condensed.

No injuries were reported, and fire crews cleared the scene at about 3 p.m.