PA Under Red Flag Warning

Claysburg, Blue Knob and Freedom Township Fire Departments have all responded to many calls for brush fires within the last two weeks.

Scott Eicher, fire chief for the Claysburg Volunteer Fire Department said they have been on several calls for brush fires recently.

"People really need to be careful with burning outside," he said.

Eicher said the whole state of Pennsylvania is under a Red Flag Warning due to the dry conditions from the lack of rain.

On Friday, Novemeber 1, The National Weather Service of State College issued the warning for Central Pennsylvania.

The warning went into effect at 12 p.m. on Friday and expired at 7 p.m. the same day.

According to the Weather Channel, a Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or are imminent due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels.

Any fires that develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult to contain.

He said they were called to Right Hand Gap Road in Greenfield Township on October 21, Locust Hollow in Greenfield Township on October 25, they assisted Freedom Township Fire Department on Reservoir Road in Blair Township on October 26, and Gun Club Road in Kimmel Township on October 28.

Eicher said that all of these brush fires were caused by people burning outside.

He recommends that people not burn at all under the red flag warning until the area gets more rain.

"They shouldn't burn at all, especially with the wind until we get rain," he said. "With the wind it can carry the embers and start a fire very easily."

Freedom Township Fire Chief Ron Henry said the brush fire that occurred on Reservoir Road in Blair Township was caused by an individual who was clearing out their property and was burning a pile of brush.

"The wind picked up the embers from the fire and blew it into the woods," he said. "That's how that started."

Henry said the brush fire was a half-acre but it could have been worse.

"We put a fire line up so it would not go into the heavier stuff," he said.

Henry said it took them about an hour to put the brush fire.

He said the burn ban is still in place across the state, with Freedom and Greenfield, and Williamsburg Borough issuing their own.