Crews Battled Large Brush Fire Near Canoe Creek

Over the weekend fire crews from the Cove and surrounding area joined together to fight a large brush fire at the Huntingdon Pike about one mile from Canoe Creek State Park.

According to Geeseytown Community Fire Company's Facebook page, their crews were dispatched at 3:45 p.m. on Friday, November 8.

Upon arrival crews found about two acres burning and endangering a structure.

With the windy and dry conditions, the fire quickly outran crew members and moved beyond five acres rapidly.

The many photos on their page showed the extent of the fire.

DCNR was also on scene with their crews to help with battling the fire.

According to Williamsburg Volunteer Fire Department a back burn was in progress on Saturday, Nov. 9, around 4:53 p.m. They said at the time one lane was shut down on Short Mountain as DCNR was conducting the back burn to try to stop the Mountain Fire.

According to Geeseytown Fire Chief Brian Walls, on Sunday, Nov. 10, DCNR completed a successful back burn.

He said the fire was in the mop up stage which involved cutting down snags and extinguishing stumps and other logs within the burned out area.

Walls said at no time were any residential areas in danger.

The fires seen closer to Beaver Dam road were controlled by DCNR expert fire suppression members.

Walls said this was the area's biggest woodland fire to date. They were able to be successful because of training, support, and community support.

Fire companies that assisted included Williamsburg, Freedom Township, Allegheny Township, Duncansville, Excelsior of Bellwood, Pinecroft, Hookies and Neptune of Tyrone, Blue Knob, Alexandria, and Martinsburg.

Many of the departments thanked the community for their support and donating food and water. They also fought hard with neighboring fire departments.