Exhausted Volunteer Firefighters Go Home/DCNR Continues Firefight

Many exhausted volunteer firefighters  have left the mountain around midnight after fighting one of the largest forest fires of the season for nearly 7 hours on the steep mountain terrain of the Driftwood/Sinnemahoning area. 

Fire crews from DCNR remain to keep the fire in check as the winds have died down and weather forecasts are calling for slightly better conditions on Thursday.


The 5:02 pm alarm brought volunteer firefighters from Sinnemahoning and Emporium as the fast moving fire was driven up the mountainside by a swift westerly wind. Those departments were joined by Renovo, and Austin firefighters and many departments were activated for standby assignments.


A DCNR air water tanker was brought in to attack the fire.  


Route 120 remains closed to all but emergency traffic at the midnight hour according to an information officer at the Pennsylvania State Police in Emporium.


Special forest fire crews were brought in from out of the area to assist. One firefighter who was on scene, sent a comment that this was one of the biggest fires he has experienced in the many years he has been a firefighter, and that crews will probably be on the scene of this fire for quite some time.


http://solomonswords.blogspot.com/2012/04/exhausted-volunteer-firefighters-go.html