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RENOVO -- Fire crews responded to a sprawling wildfire in the area of Ridge Road in Noyes Township, Clinton County, in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Nov 4.
According to a Thursday afternoon update, the wildfire has burned around 200 acres and may continue to grow.
The alarm first sounded at 5:44 a.m., according to Citizens Hose Company 5. The wildfire was fueled largely by the extremely dry and windy conditions, and the terrain in the area of the wildfire is described as a steep and rocky mountainside. Local firefighters did their best to establish fire lines and make access before Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) personnel arrived at the scene.
Citizens Hose Company 5 responded with an ATV and the crew was assigned to the right flank of the fire, trying to reach the head of the fire.
Upon the arrival of DCNR, crews were brought down off the mountain to regroup and develop a new plan of attack, which entailed accessing the fire from Barney Ridge Road in an effort to cut off the head of the fire and work down the mountainside rather than continuing to climb the steep terrain from the lower flanks.
Using two dozers, firemen were able to stop the leading edge of the fire from continuing up the mountain and crews began working down both the right and left flanks through thick mountain laurel and extremely challenging terrain. Strong wind gusts caused the fire to jump established fire lines multiple times on both sides, making containment increasingly difficult, the fire company said.
Crews developed a plan that involved conducting a backburn operation along the mountainside in an effort to slow the fire's forward progress. After hours of work establishing the necessary fire lines, crews began backburning into the evening hours. Although the operation was successful in slowing portions of the fire, several spot fires developed outside the established burn area, creating additional challenges for crews.
Due to the difficult terrain, deteriorating conditions and multiple falling snags throughout the mountainside, DCNR determined that operations would need to slow overnight, Citizens Hose Company 5 said.
Support crews remained on scene throughout the night into Thursday, continuing to attempt to contain the fire until additional manpower could safely return during daylight hours.
Some firemen worked for more than 16 hours straight before being released by DCNR.
An update provided around 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5, reported that DCNR crews remained on scene continuing suppression and containment efforts. At last estimate, the fire had grown to approximately 200 acres and may increase in size further before it is extinguished. It is possible the fire may continue to burn for several days due to the size of the fire, the terrain and the dry and windy weather conditions.
In the meantime, DCNR intends to maintain crews on scene the next few days to continue containment. Residents and motorists in the surrounding areas should be aware that smoke and visible flames may remain present along the mountainside.
Those in the area should use caution while remaining aware of changing conditions.