LEHIGH TWP., Pa. - A brush fire burning on Blue Mountain for more than a day has scorched 150 acres and likely will consume 50 acres more before it's fully contained, the Northampton County executive said.
County Executive Lamont McClure told LehighValleyNews.com that the blaze is about 20 percent contained as crews made progress throughout the day Sunday.
It drew an estimated 200 volunteer firefighters and 35 state Bureau of Forestry personnel.
Crews dumped water from the air and firefighters cut lines in the forest in an effort to box the fire in and allow it to eventually burn itself out, McClure said.
No injuries have been reported and no structures have been jeopardized, but the fire grew significantly overnight as it advanced down the mountain.
“When they flew over yesterday afternoon, they estimated it was about 40 acres but that has grown significantly overnight,” Fire Commissioner Rick Hildebrand Jr. said Sunday morning. “We could be double, triple that.
"I can’t put a number on it because we don’t have anybody around it. The fire behavior did not change overnight like it typically does.”
Waiting on air support to arrive. This is 8:50am 11/3 from Berlinsville Lehigh township norco pa @NWS_MountHolly @Carver012Josh @HoundLyfe @mikestanislaw @SevereWeatherPA pic.twitter.com/t6r4XeGii8
— Abi Bingham (@AbiBingham7pt3) November 3, 2024
Hildebrand said the fire started near Route 248 in Lehigh Township. Blue Mountain borders Northampton and Carbon counties.
Its location and the mountainous terrain created challenges for fire crews.
“With it being on the steep slope side of the mountain you can’t really drop a bulldozer down over the side," Hildebrand said. "And if we did, we have to have water to back it up. It is so dry. If you’re not soaking it with copious amounts of water and the winds are pushing it, you’re (not making progress)."
Firefighters were pulled off the mountain Saturday night and returned to attack the blaze Sunday morning.
"We have fire units monitoring homes, not from an immediate threat, but they’re monitoring and trying to keep residents at ease."Lehigh Township Fire Commissioner Rick Hildebrand Jr.
Numerous aircraft and heavy equipment arrived Sunday morning to help, the Lehigh Township Volunteer Fire Company said on social media.
Hildebrand said three state Bureau of Forestry helicopters were expected, including a "Huey" with a 500-gallon water bucket.
“Everyone made it off the mountain safe and no injuries reported,” the fire company said overnight. “Units will be deployed to any homes that become threatened and well before a threat arrives.”
A cause for the fire has not been established.
Hildebrand said fire officials believe it started on state game lands near the Appalachian Trail but not on the trail.
"It was off the beaten path," he said.
The fire broke out as the Lehigh Valley and several Pennsylvania counties were under a red flag warning indicating a high level of fire danger. The region has received barely a trace of rain for more than a month.
On Thursday, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed parts of the Lehigh Valley in “moderate” and “severe” drought status.
“We’re monitoring how low it gets on the back of houses on Timberline Road right now," Hildebrand said Sunday morning. "We have fire units monitoring homes, not from an immediate threat, but they’re monitoring and trying to keep residents at ease.
“There are no evacuations at this point. We’re hoping that today’s a productive day and we get some containment going.”
The Lehigh Township Fire Company said it tracked the fire through the night with cameras and manpower.
“We are getting a lot of questions so please be patient in getting information out,” its social media post said. “At this time the officers of the (fire department) and various state and local agencies are developing a plan of action to contain the fire.”
Dozens of crews from across the region were summoned to help Saturday.
The fire company was asking people to stay clear of Route 248 and the mountain and said it was getting comments on how to help.
A Facebook post said it was in need of water “or anything you wish” for firefighters. The drop-off site for donations is the Lehigh Township Municipal Building at 1069 Municipal Drive, Walnutport, PA 18088.
By noon Sunday, however, grateful fire officials said they were overwhelmed with donations and couldn't accept any more goods because of storage issues.
Besides the state Bureau of Forestry, Hildebrand said firefighters are coordinating with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the National Park Service.
