— A massive compost pile continued to burn Tuesday at the LaPorte County Solid Waste District site near the fairgrounds, prompting an air quality alert and a multi-day-long response from local and regional fire crews. The fire, which broke out on Sunday, is believed to have started from spontaneous combustion within the large compost pile. “This is a big operation, not really that big of a fire per se, but it’s a big compost and there’s a lot underneath,” said LaPorte Fire Department Assistant Chief Kelly Burke. An air quality alert issued by the LaPorte County Emergency Management Agency remains in effect. The air quality alert is expected to persist until then.