I never gave any thought to potting soil fires.
Officials: Potting soil ignited, caused porch fire.
"Firefighters said a fire on Washington Avenue in Wheeling last month started because a potted plant became too hot, and the blaze caused much damage to the house's porch.
"Though it is rare for potting soil to catch fire, officials said it can ignite with the right combination of high humidity, extreme heat and dry soil.
Wheeling Fire Department's assistant chief said the mixture of the soil, shredded bark, peat moss and Styrofoam balls can be flammable in those conditions.
"Back to the old rule of spontaneous combustion: The organic and inorganic material that is put in potting soil now combined with some fertilizers that some soils have. And fertilizer is an oxidizer, which would intensify spontaneous combustion," said Assistant Chief Ed Geisel. ...'
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