• Firefighters conducted a test fire at 11:30 a.m. today and have determined that conditions are clear to continue ignitions thanks to additional snow over the last few days. Smoke may be visible.
• We're seeing an increased potential for smoke today due to higher fuel moisture. We've added more personnel including a second Hotshot crew. We expect to continue ignitions tomorrow, April 17, and Tuesday, April 18, with over 20 personnel staffing at night.
• At 6:00 p.m., firefighters ceased ignitions, treating an additional 180 acres today for a total of 300 acres. We are staffing the area with over 20 personnel tonight. Smoke may continue to be visible. We expect to proceed with ignitions tomorrow.

April 14, 2023 - Evening Update – Today’s burn operations have concluded in the Mountaintop Ranger District, there may still be smoke visible through the night, all piles are holding in place and will be in patrol status and monitored. There was a total of 13 acres accomplished today.

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth #fawnskinprescribedburn

Forest Service News Release

Public Affairs Officer: Christopher Leeser

(814) 728-6281

christopher.leeser@usda.gov

www.fs.usda.gov/allegheny

River Road Wildfire Update

Wildfire Burning in Allegheny National Forest

Warren, PA, April 14, 2023—The USDA Forest Service announced that the River Road Wildfire was 95 percent contained and approximately 447 acres in size as of 2:30 pm on Friday, April 14, 2023. The wildfire is located in the Marienville Ranger District of Allegheny National Forest and is burning on Forest Service and private land in the vicinity of River, Gregg Hill, and Millstone Roads. The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation.

Wildland firefighters made significant progress fighting the fire through back burning operations on Thursday. Fire crews are continuing to mop up hot spots and strengthen firelines, especially in areas adjacent to private property. Fire crews will remain on duty throughout the weekend to monitor the fire area if conditions warrant. No structures have been lost and none are directly threatened. No evacuations have been ordered.

Seventeen volunteer fire departments, the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – Bureau of Forestry, the PA Game Commission, and the Forest Service worked collaboratively to suppress the River Road Wildfire. Given the progress made in containment and current conditions, the unified command structure was disbanded today at 2:30 pm and command of the River Road Wildfire transitioned to the Forest Service.

For information on the River Road Wildfire visit Inciweb - River Road Wildfire Information.

The entire state of Pennsylvania is at a heightened danger of wildfire due to low humidity, sunny skies, and strong wind gusts. Please be extremely careful with any outdoor fires.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

FIRE INFORMATION UPDATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2023  

CONTACT:
Philip Jackson, public information officer
919-857-4828; philip.jackson@ncagr.gov

Last Resort Fire now 100% contained following successful water operations

CRESWELL – Consistent water penetration into the fire area over the last several days has allowed firefighting crews to make significant progress on the Last Resort Fire. Firefighting personnel reached full containment Thursday, April 13. The fire reached 5,280 acres in size since igniting Friday, March 24.

After moving a combined 438 million gallons of water from Phelps Lake and a freshwater canal along Seagoing Road, the N.C. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ceased water pumping operations from Phelps Lake. Crews will continue to pull water from the seagoing canal to maintain current water levels.

Significant resources will demobilize Friday, April 14, as the unified command (UC) structure will downsize to a Type 4 Incident Management Team. Remaining resources will continue patrolling fire lines and monitoring water levels for the next several weeks to ensure the fire stays within its current footprint.

There are still no injuries and no structures threatened at this time. The cause of the fire was determined to be a debris burn on private land that escaped containment.

A temporary flight restriction (TFR) remains in effect for the Last Resort Fire. The TFR restricts all civilian aircraft, manned and unmanned, within 5 miles of the fire. The flight restriction remains in place until aviation support is no longer needed.

For information updates, visit https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ncpor-last-resort-fire. For the latest information about wildfires across the state, visit www.ncforestservice.gov/fire_control/sit_report.htm.

The Last Resort Fire is being managed with unified command
between the N.C. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

April 14, 2023 - The San Bernardino National Forest (BDF) Mountaintop Ranger District will be conducting a prescribed pile burn today from 9:00am to 5:00pm as weather and environmental conditions allow. We want to thank the communities for their continued support as we work to protect our public lands. There are approximately 16 acres planned as firefighters burn 300 piles around the district office and Big Bear community. Firefighters will be monitoring the area until all piles are extinguished.

Prescribed fire plays an important role in forest health and in reducing extreme wildfires and their negative impact. These fires also help reduce heavy fuel loads while simultaneously opening the conifer forest structure and maintaining the health of meadow habitats. Fire is also used to enhance native plant communities and cultural landscapes and improve wildlife habitats. Another goal is to provide defensible space for communities and developed areas within and surrounding the BDF. With all fire comes smoke, and the U.S. Forest Service work to mitigate smoke impacts from prescribed fires on the communities in the area.

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth #fawnskinprescribedburn

Last night firefighters attempted burning 5 acres of hand piles in the Westshore Project (Unit 8). One acre was completed before weather conditions caused ignitions to be stopped. Firefighters remained on the scene overnight monitoring and mopping up the unit. On Friday, April 14 the unit remains in patrol status.

April 13, 2021 - Evening Update – Today’s burn operations have concluded in the Mountaintop Ranger District, there may still be smoke visible through the night, all piles are holding in place and will be in patrol status and monitored. There was a total of 15 acres accomplished today.

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth #Baldwinprescribedburn

Forest Service News Release

Public Affairs Officer: Christopher Leeser

(814) 728-6281

christopher.leeser@usda.gov

www.fs.usda.gov/allegheny

River Road Wildfire Burning in Allegheny National Forest

Warren, PA, April 13, 2023—The USDA Forest Service announced that a wildfire was reported in Allegheny National Forest on the afternoon of April 12, 2023.  The wildfire response is under unified command by the Forest Service, Pennsylvania State Bureau of Forestry, and multiple volunteer fire departments. As of 11:00 pm on April 12th, the wildfire was estimated at 162 acres, was 30 percent contained, and was named the River Road Wildfire. The wildfire is located in the Marienville Ranger District of Allegheny National Forest and is burning on Forest Service and private land in the vicinity of River, Gregg Hill, and Millstone Roads. The cause of the wildfire is under investigation.

Agency staff and volunteer firefighters are actively engaged in establishing firelines and mitigating safety hazards. The safety of the public and firefighters is our highest priority. For their safety, members of the public are asked to stay out of the fire area, use vehicle headlights and extreme caution when driving on smoke-covered roadways, and yield the right-of-way to responding fire equipment. As of 1:30 pm, no evacuations had been ordered and no structures were directly threatened by the wildfire.

Initial responders to the River Road Wildfire included staff from the Allegheny National Forest, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Bureau of Forestry, and seventeen volunteer fire departments. Suppression efforts on April 12th included six, 800-gallon loads of fire retardant dropped by PA Bureau of Forestry contracted aircraft.

For additional information on the River Road Wildfire visit Inciweb - River Road Wildfire Information or call Allegheny National Forest Public Affairs at 814-728-6281.

The entire state of Pennsylvania is at a heightened danger of wildfire this week due to lowering humidities, sunny skies, and strong wind gusts. Please be extremely careful with any outdoor fires.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

April 13, 2023 - The San Bernardino National Forest (BDF) Mountaintop Ranger District will be conducting a prescribed pile burn today from 9:00am to 5:00pm as weather and environmental conditions allow. We want to thank the community of the Bear Valley for their continued support as we work to protect our public lands. There are approximately 27 acres planned and firefighters will be monitoring the area until all piles are extinguished.

Prescribed fire plays an important role in forest health and in reducing extreme wildfires and their negative impact. These fires also help reduce heavy fuel loads while simultaneously opening the conifer forest structure and maintaining the health of meadow habitats. Fire is also used to enhance native plant communities and cultural landscapes and improve wildlife habitats. Another goal is to provide defensible space for communities and developed areas within and surrounding the BDF. With all fire comes smoke, and the U.S. Forest Service work to mitigate smoke impacts from prescribed fires on the communities in the area.

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth #baldwinlakesprescribedburns