L. SAUCON TWP., Pa.- Fire crews were busy battling dense flames and smoke in Lower Saucon Township Tuesday afternoon as a brush fire tore quickly through several acres of land.
Crews in Lower Saucon Twp. made quick work of this fast-moving brush fire, getting it contained and extinguished in about two hours.
According to the Lower Saucon Twp. Fire Chief, the call came in around noon for a brush fire running up the mountain at the 2300 block of Wassergass Road.
The fire was covering about 3.5-4 acres, dispatchers said.
Rich Rolen | for WFMZ-TV
“The grounds starting to thaw out so it gets real slimy and the trucks have a hard time climbing up the hillsides and the terrain as you can see is pretty steep,” says Chief Ty Johnson, Fire Chief, Lower Saucon Fire Rescue.
A homeowner in the area was burning debris, when winds caused the flames to spread to nearby grass, and upwards to the woods, spreading to about three acres of land.
The State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources was on scene assessing the damage.
They say while brush fires in January are rare, they can and do happen.
Rich Rolen | for WFMZ-TV
“We’re seeing an uptick through the region here especially in the mid-Atlantic could be twelve months out of the year just depends what’s going on with the weather, what we’re doing and what kind of snow pack, what kind of rain we’re getting,” says Greg Reese, Wildland Fire Supervisor, DCNR.
That’s why officials say it’s important to keep an eye on conditions before burning anything outdoors.
“Keep an eye on the weather when the humidity starts getting down low, it promotes fire growth, if you’re gonna burn in the barrel have a screen over top of the barrel, maybe check with your local township or borough if you’re allowed to burn, talk to the 911 center before you light a fire or contact your local fire department,” says Chief Johnson.
No one was injured, and there was no damage to any nearby property.