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DCNR: Wildfires Increase In 2018 Over 2017, But Nowhere Near 2016
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On February 21, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reported there were a total of 690 wildfires in 2018 which burned 1,843 acres. In 2017 there were 531 reported fires affecting 1,644 acres. In 2016, however, Bureau of Forestry personnel and volunteer firefighters battled more than 850 reported field, brush, and forest fires that scorched more than 12,000 acres across the state. “Pennsylvania’s 2018 wildfire season was relatively short-lived in the spring, resulting in below-average instances of acres burned,’” said Mike Kern, chief of DCNR's Bureau of Forestry’s Forest Fire Protection section. “Heavy summer and fall rains resulted in an extremely low number of fires after July.” Debris burning accounted for the most wildfires in 2018, with 424 incidents scorching 1,325 acres. A total of 58 fires, burning 146 acres, were labeled arson. Campfires, equipment use, fireworks, and smoking accounted for 72 wildfires throughout the state. DCNR statistics show nearly 85 percent of Pennsylvania’s wildfires occur in March, April, and May, before the greening of state woodlands and brushy areas. Wildfire Prevention Week is usually designated during the first week in March. For more on wildfires, visit DCNR’s Wildfire webpage. Click Here for tips on how homeowners can reduce the risk of wildfires. For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Click Here to sign up for the Resource newsletter, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog, Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr. NewsClips: Schneck: Wet 2018 Resulted In Fewer Wildfires In Pennsylvania 40th Crawford Conservation District Seedling Sale Underway Crable: Brenda Lee Sieglitz On Planting Trees And Healing Power Of Nature - Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership How, Where To Get Fresh Maple Syrup From The Tree In Philadelphia Horses Help Drag Felled Trees Out Of Erie Park Related Stories: DCNR Urges Caution To Prevent Wildfires Related Stories This Week: PaEN: Dauphin County Woodland Owners To Hold Annual Conference March 9 PaEN: Keystone Tree Fund Bill Reported From House Transportation Committee PaEN: DCNR Good Natured Pennsylvanians: Ron Beach, Lycoming County PaEN: Feb. 22 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation PaEN: Keystone Tree Fund Bills In Senate, House Gain DEP Citizens Advisory Council Support PaEN: National Wild Turkey Federation Honors Game Commission Forester Brent McNeal (The 2018 information here came from the February 21 DCNR Resource newsletter. Click Here to sign up for your own copy.) [Posted: Feb. 22, 2019] |
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2/25/2019 |
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