SAN ANTONIO – Can you smell it? A mulch fire on the Southwest Side has been burning since Sunday.

The fire is at Nelson Gardens / Brush Recycle Center at 8963 Nelson Road.

On Wednesday night, the fire department inspected the fire and “confirmed continued residual smoldering, which is expected.”

Early Thursday, the winds switched and are now blowing from the south, pushing the smoke over the city.

“I remember Monday morning coming out here wasn’t as bad. It looked like it was contained. And then slowly, as the week went on, it slowly progressed. And then today, it kind of feels like it’s getting worse quicker,” said Denzel Busby from Alamo 1 Environmental.

The fire department said in a statement that the fire is no threat to nearby schools or structures. They will continue to evaluate the smoldering and respond to the scene if needed.

“A few people are complaining they don’t like the smell and all that. We’re trying to keep mostly everyone indoors,” explained Busby. “The smell is annoying, the smoke. We’re trying to keep everyone out the smoke’s crosshairs, so you’re not smelling it, inhaling it, getting in your eyes. I know it can be quite annoying.”

INFAMOUS ‘MULCHIE’ FIRE

The “Mulchie” fire in Helotes became one of the most infamous environmental incidents in San Antonio-area history after a massive mulch pile caught fire late on Dec. 25, 2006.

The “Mulchie” fire in Helotes became one of the most infamous environmental incidents in San Antonio-area history after a massive mulch pile caught fire late on Dec. 25, 2006.

The “Mulchie” fire in Helotes became one of the most infamous environmental incidents in San Antonio-area history after a massive mulch pile caught fire late on Dec. 25, 2006.

The pile—reportedly as tall as an eight-story building—burned for more than three months at a recycling facility near Farm-to-Market 1560, sending thick smoke and ash across Northwest Bexar County. The fallout forced school closures, displaced hundreds of residents and prompted local officials to declare a disaster, citing growing health concerns.

Efforts to extinguish the fire were complicated by its location near the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone and ongoing disputes over who would pay for firefighting efforts. The property owner, contractor Henry L. Zumwalt, denied responsibility, and the cause of the fire was never determined, according to the San Antonio Express News.

As the fire dragged on, it drew national and even international attention.

Despite the serious impacts, the fire also took on a cultural life of its own. Nicknamed “Mulchie,” it gained a following online and even inspired novelty merchandise sold to benefit local firefighters. The blaze was finally extinguished on March 27, 2007, costing taxpayers about $5.8 million.

In the aftermath, lawsuits were filed over liability, and the incident led to tighter regulations on brush storage and fire prevention.