How had the Homeowner’s Association tried to solve the problem of the muck fires? How had these efforts proven unsuccessful?

The efforts are largely failures. The homeowners' association tries to put it out the muckfires by dumping water on them. This was not a good idea because it turns the ground into a huge swamp and breeding ground for mosquitoes. They also allow one lightening rod on each house to absorb lightening. People start putting up more than one rod. The houses are being tented and fumigated for termites. People end up robbing the houses.