THOUSAND PALMS, CA — Acres of mulch and landscape debris caught fire overnight in the unincorporated Thousand Palms area, filling the Coachella Valley with smoke, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department reported Monday.

The blaze began sometime before 2:30 a.m. at a private property on Vista Chino near the 27000 block of Rio Del Sol Road, Cal Fire spokesperson Maggie De La Rosa told Patch.

“The burning mulch piles are quite large and about 15 feet high,” she said. “We expect firefighters to be out there for the majority of the day.” Private crews may also assemble to assist in the fire that remains under investigation.