Evening Fire along the French Creek

At 9:09 PM Tuesday, our department was alerted for a brush fire along the railroad tracks near Bridge Street. The caller reported the fire was in the area of the Mont Clare bridge and was larger than a bonfire.

Deputy, Rescue, Ladder and Utility 65-2 responded to the incident. Rescue and Deputy 65 arrived to find a fire in the woods at an encampment near the confluence of the French Creek and the Schuylkill River. A booster line was used to get water to the area, which was difficult to access. Squad 68 from UPT Fire & Emergency Services was requested to assist with additional water and manpower.

The cause of the fire is under investigation but believed to be from a gas-powered electric generator. The Mont Clare bridge/Route 29 was reduced to one-lane while crews worked to extinguish the fire. Crews cleared the scene in about 45 minutes.