St. Johns County is taking action against a wood recycling business that has left residents complaining about plumes of smoke, sore throats and falling ash.

Residents say they have been forced to stay indoors because of burning at Ancient City Wood Recycling, at 395 Saint Marks Pond Blvd.

The St. Johns County school district also confirmed that Palencia Elementary School had to bring students inside due to smoke three times in the last several weeks.

After a number of residents complained to county commissioners March 5, the county issued a cease-and-desist order that prevents the business from burning.

The county says Ancient City Wood Recycling has violated business conditions established in 2021. Those included: 

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• Only conducting business, including burning, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. 
• Conducting burning only one day per week.

St. Johns County Fire Rescue documented that the business was violating both rules and sending plumes of smoke toward its neighbors. The department has responded to 49 calls to the business or the surrounding area since 2021. 

An investigation by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection last April found that the business was decreasing air quality standards and performing unauthorized open burning. the business was ordered to pay $8,500 in fines.

Representatives from Ancient City Wood Recycling could not reached for comment.

Among the residents complaining March 5 was Ashley Smith, who said she lives a mile and a half from the recycling plant. She recalled a morning in February when she woke to the smell of smoke in her house and initially thought her home was on fire.

Smith’s children woke up with sore throats, she said, and she developed a serious migraine.

“The following day,” Smith said, “I attempted to work in the garden, but ash was falling around me, all over everything, again.”

She said conducting daily life around the smoke and ash has become commonplace for her family.

“We stay inside with the doors and windows shut, and we load up on antihistamines and sore throat lozenges,” Smith told county commissioners.

The day after that meeting, county staff said they reached an agreement with the business owner. But the business continued its burning that afternoon, “bringing the business further out of compliance,” said St. Johns County Public Affairs Supervisor Tyler Jarnagin.

“The county immediately deployed Fire Rescue to the location at that time,” Jarnagin said.

While the fire has never been out of control, St. Johns County Director of Public Affairs Wayne Larson told Jacksonville Today it has been smoldering.

“While the fire is not actively burning, for a period of time and during certain weather conditions the area could still emit some smoke from the remnants of the burn pile,” he said.

As of Thursday, Fire Rescue had contained the fire, Larson said. 

Lead image: Smoke rising near Ancient City Wood Recycling is visible near Palencia. | News4Jax