Local and state forestry officials are urging residents of Schuylkill County to avoid debris burning and campfires due to an increased risk of wildfires in the area.
The District Forester of the Weiser Forest District, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR) and the Schuylkill County Office of Emergency Management, issued the recommendation today. They emphasized that these precautions are to protect community safety and conserving resources during the region's prolonged dry spell.
On Friday, October 25, 2024, at 9:00 AM, PA DCNR elevated Pennsylvania's wildland fire preparedness level to 2. This change reflects a heightened state of alert as initial fire starts have increased, and forecasts predict little to no rainfall over the next week. Dry conditions across the state have left vegetation more susceptible to catching fire, heightening the risk for uncontrolled wildfires.
Uncontrolled fires can put a severe strain on firefighting resources, which are often already stretched thin, and threaten watersheds, block transportation routes, and endanger nearby homes and commercial properties. Although there is currently no county-wide burn ban, officials are continuously monitoring rainfall and forest conditions. They will adjust fire restrictions as needed based on changing weather patterns and vegetation conditions.
As conditions remain precarious, officials remind the public of Smokey Bear’s timeless message: “Only YOU can prevent wildfires.”
On Friday, October 25, 2024, at 9:00 AM, PA DCNR elevated Pennsylvania's wildland fire preparedness level to 2. This change reflects a heightened state of alert as initial fire starts have increased, and forecasts predict little to no rainfall over the next week. Dry conditions across the state have left vegetation more susceptible to catching fire, heightening the risk for uncontrolled wildfires.
Uncontrolled fires can put a severe strain on firefighting resources, which are often already stretched thin, and threaten watersheds, block transportation routes, and endanger nearby homes and commercial properties. Although there is currently no county-wide burn ban, officials are continuously monitoring rainfall and forest conditions. They will adjust fire restrictions as needed based on changing weather patterns and vegetation conditions.
As conditions remain precarious, officials remind the public of Smokey Bear’s timeless message: “Only YOU can prevent wildfires.”