Dumpster fires still a problem in Mount Pleasant

The dumpster was discovered by an officer on a regular patrol. Officer Jeff Browne, MPPD's public information officer, said the officer smelled something as they passed by and found the dumpster smoldering in the 100 block of East High Street.

"The officer used their fire extinguisher to put out most of it," Browne said. "The fire department got the rest of the embers. There wasn't a whole lot in the dumpster, just a couple boxes and a TV center that was broken up."

Browne said officers canvased the area for a suspect, but found no one on the street. There were no injuries reported from the incident.

MPPD is tracking the dumpster fires more this year, Browne said. The department is looking to see if this is becoming more of a trend than in the past.

"We just wish people would stop," Browne said.

Mount Pleasant City Commissioners voted on June 23 to make the 300-foot fire ordinance into law. Commissioners wanted to make sure the law was in place before students come back to Central Michigan University's campus.

The new law would charge those within 300 feet of the fire with a misdemeanor. 

Some landlords have started to offer money for leads in the arsons around Mount Pleasant. United Apartments is offering a $1,000 reward for information that would lead to an arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for the dumpster fires at their complexes. 

Check with cm-life.com for more on this story.