DCNR has provided an update to Friday night's wildfire in Cass Township.
Late Friday evening, just after 8:00 p.m., a fast-moving wildfire broke out in Cass Township, Schuylkill County, prompting a large-scale response from local and state fire crews. The blaze, initially fueled by strong winds over 30 mph and extremely dry conditions, spread quickly across the area, lighting up the night sky and prompting local departments to call for additional support.
Firefighters from across the region responded to the call, but as the flames advanced, assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and extra forestry units was requested to control the blaze. While DCNR forestry crews tackled the fire, local volunteer firefighters worked tirelessly to protect nearby structures threatened by the encroaching flames.
By early Saturday morning, at approximately 3:00 a.m., DCNR crews temporarily stepped back, with plans to resume containment efforts at dawn. They returned to the scene just after 7:00 a.m. to continue working toward full containment of the blaze.
The wildfire, which scorched around 47 acres, proved challenging to suppress due to rugged terrain, dry conditions, and powerful winds. In a statement, Jacob Novitsky, State Forest Officer and Forest Fire Warden for DCNR, described the extreme conditions crews faced.
“The rugged terrain and very dry fuels were some of our main concerns,” Novitsky said. “Using multiple volunteer fire companies, warden crews, and other DCNR personnel, we were able to successfully complete a burn-out operation, using existing roads except for a small dozer line that was necessary on the left flank.”
The fire was finally declared under control on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. after a coordinated effort between volunteer fire departments, DCNR, and Reading Anthracite. Novitsky noted that the wildfire is still under investigation but emphasized the dangerous conditions. “I’ve been doing this for 15 years, and I’ve never seen fuels this dry in Pennsylvania,” he said.
The DCNR officer cautioned the public that despite the light rain expected Sunday evening, it would likely be insufficient to alleviate the high fire danger in the area. “Even with a bit of rain, it won’t be enough to reduce fire danger. We’ll need sustained rainfall to shift us back to low fire danger status.”
This wildfire was part of a series of brush fires reported in the region Friday night, with similar fires breaking out in Butler Township near Girardville, Beaver Township in Columbia County, and in Berks County. The cause of the Cass Township fire remains under investigation, and authorities urge residents to be extra cautiuous as dry conditions persist.