BARNESVILLE — A state fire forester warns of fires due to weather conditions.
Jake Novitsky, a fire forester for the Weiser Forest District, which is District 18 and encompasses seven counties including Schuylkill, is concerned about the current warm, dry climate.
“The potential is out there,” he said.
A sign outside the Locust Valley Fire Control Station, Barnesville, said the fire danger was high, something Novitsky said he thought would occur today. He said a burn ban might be needed.
“It does not take much. It only takes one little spark,” he said.
Tim Ladner, district forester with the Weiser Forest District, agreed that a burn ban might be a good idea.
“Every spring we ought to have a burn ban,” he said.
The foliage is not on most trees and shrubs are likely bare, he said.
On whether he might contact John Matz, Schuylkill County emergency management coordinator, about the conditions, Ladner said he will likely send a letter today recommending a burn ban.
The Schuylkill County commissioners, as well as 10 fire chiefs, would have to approve a burn ban that would be in effect for 30 days. Burn bans were issued every year since 2010.
Frank Zangari, president of the Schuylkill County Fire Chiefs, said discussion about a burn ban might come up at the quarterly fire chiefs meeting. Matz said the meeting will be held at 7 p.m. April 18 at the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority building, Pottsville.
Zangari agreed that the potential for a fire is real.
“It’s gotten so hot quickly, everything is still dry. We had a pretty mild winter,” he said.
Novitsky said there have been 11 wildfires since Jan. 1 in the Weiser Forest District in Schuylkill County, including Pine Grove, Schuylkill Haven and Eldred, Butler, Porter and West Penn townships. All but one of the fires have been due to debris burning, he said. The size of the fires ranged to one-tenth of an acre to 3.6 acres.
A fire on the Burma Road on Sunday was arson, Novitsky said, declining to provide more details.
“It’s still under investigation,” he said.
In case of a fire, contact emergency personnel.
“Call 911. Let the volunteer fire companies and the professionals handle it,” Novitsky said.
He advised not burning near structures and not walking away from a fire. If burning is needed, do it in the rain.
Information provided by Novitsky from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources shows Schuylkill County had the highest number of wildfires in Pennsylvania in 2016 for the spring and fall with 143, amounting for 16.8 percent of fires. The Delaware Forest District had the most acres burned at 8,690 acres. Statewide, debris fires accounted for 44.5 percent of fires, followed by incendiary-type fires at 22.7 percent.
“Most of the reported fires last year are linked to people; people cause 98 percent of wildfires. A mere spark by a careless person can touch off a devastating forest blaze during dry periods when conditions enable wildfires to spread quickly,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said in a statement.
Even with the rain last week, the ground is dry.
“It doesn’t take much for it to dry out,” Novitsky said.
Aaron Tyburski, a meteorologist with National Weather Service, State College, said Monday’s weather conditions could increase the likelihood of a fire.
“We are kind of in that sweet spot right now,” he said, referring to conditions such as the high angle of the sun and the cover on the ground.
No significant rain is in the forecast.
“It does look relatively dry,” he said.
Temperatures will vary from 77 degrees today to lower 60s for the rest of the week. Tyburski said humidity and winds also play into the mix for fire conditions.
In other news, the state Department of Environmental Protection said Schuylkill County is no longer in a drought watch as of April 6.