The Lehigh Valley is back in a moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. It comes after last year’s months-long drought, and almost a year after one of the worst brush fires our region had seen in decades. 

“Typically, October and November, that is our prime fall brush fire season,” 69 News Meteorologist Clayton Stiver said.

Brush fire season is back — just as the Lehigh Valley, and many surrounding areas are officially back in a moderate drought.

“So now, leading into this period, we’ve already had a really dry stretch,” Stiver said.

Last year’s months-long drought saw many brush fires, including the long-fought, hundreds-of-acres wide Blue Mountain Fire. 

“It was the largest brush fire in Lehigh Township history,” Assistant Chief Brian Krische with the Lehigh Township Volunteer Fire Company said. “It went over 600 acres.”

It was almost this same time last year — and it’s burned into many of our memories.

“Back in November when we had the large mountain fire, everything just came into perfect play,” Krische said.

69 News meteorologist Clayton Stiver says current conditions could exacerbate the fall brush fire season.

“We’ve got leaves dropping now. You’ve got dead vegetation,” he said. “You add on to the fact that you get winds now with trees that don’t have any leaves on them anymore. The wind can travel easier.”

Krische says so far, it’s not looking as bad as last year.

“Back in November, it was much drier,” Krische said. “We’re still getting the high humidity. Like in the morning, we have a lot of frost or dew on the grass yet.”

But he adds we haven’t reached November yet.

“We’re not going to close on the books on this yet,” he said.

In the meantime, everyone should do their part, by practicing fire safety.

“We don’t want you throwing those cigarette butts around,” Stiver said. “If you’re doing a campfire, make sure that you put that fire out. All those same things apply here.”