MERCEDES – The Mercedes Fire Department is working to get rid of a pile of smoldering cotton causing a disturbance for some residents.

It was three weeks when Mercedes Emergency Management Coordinator, George Garrett, said they noticed the cotton started to smolder.

He said people in the neighborhood nearby started to complain about the smoke coming from the area.

“We decided to try to mitigate it by digging a large hole… and we’re going to put the cotton into the hole and cover it up,” Garrett explained.

The cotton pile is roughly a hundred yards. The windy conditions are causing the smoke to spread.

Mercedes, Weslaco and Donna fire departments have been assisting.

Garrett said crews started the project on Tuesday and hope to have it completed by the end of Wednesday.