EASTON, Pa. — It wasn't an easy decision. But it was one officials felt was necessary given the circumstances.
The traditional bonfire that precedes Easton's annual Thanksgiving Day football game against rival Phillipsburg High School won't be held this year — the second time in four years.
“The police command staff, the school administration, the superintendent and I met Friday morning, and after much deliberation, the school district decided to cancel it," Palmer Township Fire Commissioner Stephen Gallagher said.
"Myself and the police chief recommended that they postpone it for more conducive weather conditions, but they decided to cancel."
Easton Area School District announced Monday that the beloved tradition held the night before Thanksgiving Day would be canceled this year.
Schools Superintendent Tracy Piazza said fire safety concerns linked to drought conditions prompted the move.
It's the first time the building of the bonfire and traditions that go with it have been canceled due to weather conditions. In 2020, the bonfire along with the Thanksgiving Day football game and other celebratory events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gallagher explained the situation Monday night during a meeting of the Palmer Township supervisors. (Easton Area High School and the bonfire are in Palmer Township.)
... It doesn't take into consideration the embers flying with how close and how dry things are and how close residential properties are."<br/>Palmer Township Fire Commissioner Stephen Gallagher
Gallagher said the decision was made after careful consideration of “the drought conditions and the safety of life and property,” though he added putting the event off by just a day could have been an effective compromise.
Risks beyond the bonfire
According to Gallagher, even with teams of firefighters at the scene, the potential for embers to be carried by the wind onto dry brush, leaves, or grass could have caused serious problems.
“That's that was the main concern," Gallagher said. "I mean, they could be watering down the field, but that only takes care of the immediate area of the bonfire itself; it doesn't take into consideration the embers flying with how close and how dry things are and how close residential properties are.
“I didn't want to really risk the catastrophic event, but we did have a plan in place in the event that it did get approved.”
Embers are particularly dangerous due to their ability to travel and ignite combustible materials — these are sometimes referred to to as "firebrands" — and under the right conditions, lead to further fires even after the originating blaze dies out.
Moisture deficits throughout the Lehigh Valley — and the rest of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast — have been substantial, measuring 6 to 9 inches or more below normal rates.
As of Monday, the Lehigh Valley had recorded just 1.61 inches of rain since Sept. 1 — a deficit of 9.19 inches.
Increased risk for fires has been a top concern across the area, especially in light of the Blue Mountain brush fire that burned 600 acres near Route 248 in Lehigh Township earlier this month.
Rain in forecast
Meteorologists are calling for much-needed precipitation this week, including a storm system that could rapidly intensify from Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
But those conditions would not necessarily help with the bonfire, Gallagher said, as the district and Northampton County are ultimately responsible for the final decision.
“The decision still stands until the county decides to terminate the countywide burn ban. My position still stands that conditions will not be conducive for having a bonfire,” Gallagher said Monday night.
Township supervisor Jeffrey Young expressed disappointment in the decision, saying he felt that the district, police, and fire departments should have found a way to hold the bonfire.
“I respect our school board and the administrators, I just wish we would have it for the kids,” Young said, adding he understood the concern, though he felt the presence of multiple fire departments could have kept the bonfire under control.
“But it’s their decision, not ours.”
Petition formed
A Change.org petition launched by Finn Ostrowski sought to reschedule the bonfire, and as of Tuesday morning contained more than 500 signatures.
“Easton Area High School has a bonfire every year to celebrate the rivalry between Easton and Phillipsburg,” the petition reads.
“It has been a long standing tradition of the town to have this bonfire and this year it has been canceled due to a burn ban. We recognize the dangers of a bonfire in light of environmental conditions, but ask that it could be delayed to keep the tradition running for this year of seniors. Please sign this petition to have the bonfire postponed until after the burn ban to guarantee the standing of this tradition.”
Superintendent Piazza has said the district will still allow high school seniors to take the day off on Wednesday, Nov. 27, and that the parade and party for the game are still on.
An alternative to the bonfire may be hosted for the students and community, she said.
A parade is usually held from Cottingham Stadium in Easton to the bonfire at the high school. But this year, Piazza said, the parade will start at the high school and lead to Cottingham, where a pep rally and other festivities will be held, according to lehighvalleylive.com.
Piazza said the rivalry game's traditions will remain, just without the bonfire.
