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Brush Fire Battle Continues in the Poconos

BARRETT TOWNSHIP — A massive brush fire that investigators say was intentionally set continues to burn in the Poconos, near the Pike and Monroe County lin...
brush fires KW

BARRETT TOWNSHIP -- A massive brush fire that investigators say was intentionally set continues to burn in the Poconos, near the Pike and Monroe County line.

Sunday night, a colony of cabins outside Dingmans Ferry was evacuated when winds caused the fire to shift. Part of the Delaware State Forest was closed.

That fire now is 10 to 20 miles away from downtown Stroudsburg.

Smoke filled the air Monday as crews continued their battle with a stubborn brush fire in the hills near the Pike and Monroe County line.

Officials say the fire has now burned almost 8,000 acres and is about one third under control.

"The conditions are pretty rough right now with the weather, definitely where I am working, our assignment, it's going good. We're making a lot of progress. I am happy with it," said Tom Ladson, fire forester.

What is now called the Cresco Complex fire made a run northeast on Sunday, forcing the evacuation of a colony of cabins called Pine Flats.

On Monday, the area is a smoke-filled ghost town with orange patches where crews dumped fire retardant from the air.

Officials say since then, the fire has been spreading towards Porters Lake, a century-old private club, and a local landmark called the Pickerel Inn.

The Pickerel Inn is normally a place where people come for things like bait, but now with the fire moving this way, it's become an information center.

All day, people stop by to look at the latest map of the fire. Cabin owners call from all over the country.

"There was actually one gentleman here who lost his cabin that was here, so, yeah, that was sad to hear," said Dan Ochsenreither, Pickerel Inn.

The state Bureau of Forestry asked the store to reopen Sunday night so firefighters could get fuel and refreshments.

The manager is glad he can help keep his community safe and informed.

"Just trying to keep up to date with everything, and let everybody know what's going on and keep calm. Hopefully, they will get everything under control soon," said Ochsenreither.

Officials say the fire in Pike County and another one that is now under control in Monroe County were intentionally set.

They are offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of whoever is responsible.

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