NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, Pa. — The Lehigh Township Volunteer Fire Company says the wildfire has scorched 577 acres and is only 25% contained. Firefighters say that the risk to residences off Timberline Road has lessened, but they may still see glowing trees and lots of smoke.
Cases of water and sports drinks are stacked up outside the Lehigh Township Municipal Building Command Center, waiting for crews who need a break from fighting a large brush fire on the Blue Mountain near Palmerton.
"You name it, we have it. I have never ever seen this community come together the way they did," said Asst. Chief Brian Krische with Lehigh Township Fire.
So far, officials say more than 200 acres have burned, and 20% of the fire has been contained. Cews from DCNR have taken over, relieving many local fire companies from the scene.
"We are now in a support role. These guys are pros; they do this all year round," said Krische.
"The fire is on top of the mountain and hasn't gone down the other side, and we hope to keep it there.," said Bob Kurilla with the DCNR Bureau of Forestry.
Crews from DCNR are using helicopters to douse the flames and utilizing back burns to keep the fire from spreading.
Officials say a fire of this magnitude brings challenges with extremely dry conditions and rough terrain.
"Years ago, this mountain was a superfund site, so what they are doing is planting, and on top of the mountain, they have various locations that are fenced in, and the density is so thick you can't even walk through," explained Krische.
"Just on the other side of the mountain, people who live in Carbon County are downwind from where the fire is burning they say they've been breaking in the smoke for days.
"This weather with this fire now is really horrible for me to breathe I'm actually taking my inhaler 4-5 times a day now since yesterday it lingered in my house the smoke did, that's how bad it was," said Shirley Pargas of Palmerton.
"It's smokey, and you can smell it. We had ash on our sidewalks and vehicles, so it comes and goes; it will clear up when the wind shifts," explained Cindy Donovan of Lehighton.
Crews are still investigating how the wildfire started.