4 days Ago By Amy Marchiano
Schuylkill County firefighters have battled more brush fires this year than last, and one of the main reasons is the lack of rainfall.From January to March 27, there have been 48 fires that scorched 70 acres in the county, said Fire Forester Jake Novitsky. Those 70 scorched acres are out of the 84 total acres in the Weiser Forest District, which includes Schuylkill County.
“It’s a lot drier than it was last year,” he said.In 2024, 19 fires burned 15 acres countywide since early January, Novitsky said. But the weather lately has been a pattern of extremes, and that isn’t helping.
“Last spring, all it did was rain,” he said.The county’s drought conditions coming after extreme rainfall creates more natural debris, which raises the risk of brush fires. Schuylkill County is classified as being in a severe drought, according to multiple reports, and such a designation can lead to water conservation efforts and environmental effects.
Debris burning was the No. 1 cause of brush fires as of March 27, accounting for 326 fires over 514 acres statewide, state data shows. The next most common causes of brush fires are downed power lines and equipment use.
Jake Novitsky, a fire forester with the Weiser Forest District, shows off a bladder bag, which can hold five gallons of water, at the Locust Valley Fire Control Station near Barnesville, Friday, March 21, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)Widespread problemBrush fires have been reported in numerous townships throughout Schuylkill County this year.Pine Grove, Washington, Tremont, Blythe, Butler, Hubley, Schuylkill, East and West Brunswick, Wayne, Mahanoy and West Mahanoy, North Union, West Penn and Porter Townships have all had brush fires, Novitsky said.
To date, the largest fire spread across 10.1 acres in Tremont Township earlier this month.“It’s still under investigation,” he said March 27.
No injuries were reported at that Tremont Twp. fire that took about three hours to wrestle under control.“The main concern was the wind,” Novitsky said of that fire sparked on a dry, humid day.
Interestingly, the largest acreage fire last year was also 10 acres, but happened in Saint Clair of an unknown origin, Novitsky said.Last year, in the Weiser Forest District, which encompasses Schuylkill, Carbon, Dauphin, Columbia, Lebanon, Montour and Northumberland counties, 197 fires burned about 160 acres. Brush fires in Schuylkill County accounted for 138 of those fires amounting to about 80 acres, Novitsky said.
Jake Novitsky, a fire forester with the Weiser Forest District, talks about his work at the Locust Valley Fire Control Station near Barnesville, Friday, March 21, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)Schuylkill’s 7 fire warden crewsThe Schuylkill County Communications Center pages Novitsky when a brush fire is reported. He doesn’t go to every incident, only those in which additional resources are needed or an investigation is needed.
Usually, the fire chief in charge will request assistance or Novitsky calls them. Novitsky is not the only firefighter dispatched to fight a brush fire, however. Other fire departments also respond, some of which may have specialized training to fight the fires.
The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources requests a fire warden crew if needed. Schuylkill County has seven fire warden crews. A fire warden must have specialized training to fight brush fires.
The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources must approve the designation.Those on the crew, which is a paid position by DCNR, only fight fires in the Weiser Forest District. Options are online classes or those conducted by Novitsky, which are free for interested firefighters.
Nick Miller, the North End fire chief in Pine Grove, agrees there has been an increase in brush fires over the last year.Manpower is sometimes difficult depending upon the time of day, he said.“Consider volunteering to your local department,” said Miller, who started volunteering at age 14.
First he was a member of the Freidensburg Fire Department before joining North End in 1998. This is his fifth year as fire chief. He said the people who devote time to volunteering do so because they are community minded.
“It’s rewarding,” he said.Ryan Twp. Fire Company uses this brush tanker to fight brush fires.
(SUBMITTED) Tom Price, Ryan Twp. fire chief, agrees that the time of day firefighters are requested could impact those who respond.“There’s times brush-fire season is very busy,” Price said.
The company has a former military truck it outfitted for use on brush fires, a process that took two years.Preventative measures public can takeResidents can help prevent brush fires by using a common sense approach, firefighters said.Use a metal burn barrel when burning outside, and don’t do so next to structures or other debris or on windy days, they said.
Novitsky said the most common mistake is leaving the fire unattended.“Just because there is no visible flame doesn’t mean it can’t start a fire,” he said.Staying alert to changing weather conditions is another way anyone can help prevent brush fires.
This weekend in Schuylkill County, Accuweather issued a “risk for rapid wildfire spread” alert for eastern areas of the state. High temperatures in the 70s and 80s were forecast.“These conditions, along with the continued drying of fine fuels, could support the rapid spread of any fires that ignite, which could quickly become difficult to control,” Accuweather said in its alert.
Mahanoy City Fire Chief Dan Markiewicz said if you believe you shouldn’t burn, it’s probably a good idea not to burn.“Mother Nature is the boss,” he said..
