12/16/24 - 110 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/3ubmzu7a
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Governor Proclaims March 18-24 Wildfire Prevention Week
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Gov. Tom Corbett has proclaimed March 18-24 Wildfire Prevention Week in Pennsylvania, noting a relatively warm and dry winter has greatly increased the risk of spring wildfires in much of the state.
“Warm, sunny days and drying March winds can cause wildfire dangers to spike almost overnight,” Corbett said. “Last spring, wet, cool weather proved to be firefighters’ strongest ally, helping curb brush and woodlands fires that usually can be traced to carelessness and always endanger our vast forest resources.”
Last spring, volunteer firefighters and Bureau of Forestry personnel battled about 150 reported brush and forest fires that scorched almost 400 acres. The largest was mid-April blaze that burned 100 acres in northeastern Pennsylvania.
“Almost all wildfires can be traced back to people,” Corbett noted. “A mere spark by a careless person can touch off a devastating forest blaze during dry periods when conditions are especially ripe for wildfires to spread. We urge residents and visitors to use common sense with campfires, outdoor burning and smoking materials.”
State Bureau of Forestry statistics show nearly 85 percent of Pennsylvania’s wildfires occur in March, April and May, before the greening of state woodlands and brush lands. Named for rapid spread through dormant dry vegetation, under windy conditions, wildfires annually scorch nearly 10,000 acres of state and private woodlands.
Anglers, campers and other state forest visitors are reminded open fires are prohibited on state forestland from March 1 to May 25, and when the fire danger is listed as high, very high, or extreme, unless authorized by district foresters.
Communities in heavily wooded areas are urged to follow wildfire prevention and suppression methods of the Pennsylvania Firewise Community Program to safeguard life and property.
DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry is responsible for prevention and suppression of wildfires on Pennsylvania’s 17 million acres of state and private woodlands and brush lands.
The bureau maintains a fire-detection system, and works with fire wardens and volunteer fire departments to ensure they are trained in the latest advances in fire prevention and suppression.
2011 Wildfire Season
With eyes and ears on daily weather maps and reports of expected wind and rain, the Bureau of Forestry’s Wildfire Protection section is looking toward what could be a very busy spring. It was the weather—specifically a cool, wet spring—that proved that unit’s strongest ally in 2011.
According to official statistics—that is, fires reported by municipalities as well as those bureau employees and/or forest fire wardens responded to for suppression and/or investigation—there were 202 reported fires in 2011 that burned 580 acres of field, brush and woodlands. A total of 133 of those fires occurred in the spring, burning 378 acres.
The largest fire burned across 94 acres in northeastern Pennsylvania’s Lackawanna State Forest District on April 26. Weiser State Forest District reported the most fires for the year—41, across 41 acres—and Lackawanna district had the most acres burned—130, in 16 fires. Leading cause across the state was incendiary, with arsonists starting 70 fires that scorched 220 acres.
For more information, visit DCNR's Wildfire webpage, contact local district foresters or call the Bureau of Forestry at 717-787-2925.
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3/19/2012 |
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