Local firefighters have returned from battling a wildfire in Burnside Township, in northern Centre County, with a leader stressing caution about burning outdoors.
Tim Crissman of the District 15 crew said the fire that has burned across 780 acres near Yost Ridge Road is now contained. Firefighters included men from the Rew, Bradford Township and Lewis Run volunteer fire departments.
“The fire began Tuesday as a prescribed burn by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources at Sproul State Forest,” StateCollege.com reported. “At about 4 p.m., high winds blew embers about a half-mile outside of the operation area in Burnside Township, just north of Route 144.”
On Wednesday the local crew of 10 people was sent to the scene, and members arrived to find the fire under control. That night, the crew patrolled the fire and went off duty at 11 p.m.
The volunteers returned to the fire scene at 7 a.m. Thursday, helping mop-up hot spots and patrol the fire until 6 p.m.
All in all, Crissman said the next seven days or so will be tough, adding that the area really needs greenery and rain.
The National Weather Service says that today there will be showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m. with a high near 73 degrees. Meanwhile, Saturday will be mostly sunny with a high near 71 degrees. Sunday, there will be a chance of showers with a high near 67 degrees.
