There were at least five more brush fires in Schuylkill County fewer than 24 hours after firefighters battled winds up to about 30 mph Sunday while attempting to extinguish several brush fires, including one that damaged 21 acres along Darkwater Road at the site of mining operations for Reading Anthracite.
"Winds were blowing pretty hard. At times they were up to about 30 mph," Bob Kurilla, assistant district forester for the Weiser Forest District, said Monday afternoon. "With winds pushing the fire, it oftentimes creates a rapid spread and control problems."
The state Forestry Bureau in Cressona said firefighters were dispatched at 4:50 p.m. and the fire in New Castle Township was contained at 7:34 p.m. and extinguished at 11:30 p.m. Crews on scene included fire companies from Saint Clair, Deer Lake/West Brunswick Township, Mount Carbon, East Norwegian Township, Branch Township, Pottsville and Altamont as well as four crews from the state forestry department.
Kurilla said an airplane from Hazleton dropped water on the site while another plane was used for overhead observation.
Shortly before being called to the fire along Darkwater Road, firefighters put out a small fire less then a mile away on Peach Mountain Road near Queen of the Universe Cemetery. Kurilla said the fire was quickly contained and there was less than one acre of damage.
John Matz, Schuylkill County Emergency Management coordinator, said local firefighters and forestry agents were called out to five brush fires Sunday.
About 1 p.m. Sunday, crews battled a brush fire in Pine Grove Township until it was cleared at 3:20 p.m.
Matz said the other fires were small and were extinguished within an hour.
Kurilla said there was another fire about 4 a.m. Monday at the same location of the Sunday fire on Peach Mountain Road, but it was quickly extinguished.
"It was a very busy day for us on Easter Sunday," Kurilla said Monday. "We had about 10 fires that the bureau was involved in (Sunday). (Monday) is the fourth day in a row with red flag conditions. People should not be doing any outdoor burning, period."
Kurilla said a causes for the Sunday evening and Monday morning fires have yet to be determined as the investigation continues. Anyone with information regarding the recent brush fires is asked to call the state Forestry Bureau in Cressona at 570-385-7800.
According to the National Weather Service, wind gusts peaked from 40 to 45 mph Monday as firefighters were called to at least five brush fires before 5 p.m.
The largest blaze as of 5 p.m. Monday was in West Penn Township. The state Forestry Bureau in Cressona said crews were called out to the blaze at 11 a.m.
Matz said they were unable to drop water from an airplane due to the high winds, and that required more vehicles and volunteers since everything had to be done by hand. Matz said there were about 60 firefighters and Red Cross was at the scene to provide volunteers with water and other assistance.
Crews were still on the scene as of 5 p.m. Monday.
"Lower humidity, higher temperatures and high winds - those factors combined create the potential for rapid fire spread," Kurilla said. "The fire danger is very high (Monday) and it is expected to continue until we get a soaking rain."
Kurilla said there has been a lot of brush fire activity statewide within the past week.
"Considering how dry and windy it has been, I would have expected more than last year," Kurilla said. "Maybe people are paying more attention to warnings."
Matz said there has been more than 20 brush fires reported in the county since the start of April. In addition to the five fires Sunday, Matz said there were five on Saturday, four on Friday, one on Thursday, four on Wednesday and one on Tuesday.
According to the NWS, there is a chance of rain later this week.
"There's a chance of showers (today) and Wednesday, but nothing significant, only about a quarter of an inch," Matt Steinbugl, meteorologist for the NWS, said Monday afternoon. "It's going to remain dry over the next several days and we may be revisiting fire concerns again next weekend."