Wildfire — Cumberland, Pennsylvania

2025-04-23 to 2025-04-30 · Cumberland, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

A wildfire developed during the afternoon of April 23, 2025 in Michaux State Forest, located in southwestern Cumberland County. The wildfire originated along Shippensburg Road between Milesburn and Thompson Road. The wildfire occurred during a stretch of unseasonably dry weather along with gusty winds, and expanded quickly in size to around 2,248 acres at the wildfire's furthest extent. At the fire's peak, aerial support was enlisted to battle the fire, along with firefighting crews on the ground. Evacuations from structures began during the afternoon hours of April 24th and continued through April 25th with 20-30 residences evacuated. This wildfire also caused hazy/smokey conditions across Interstate 81 between mile markers 29 and 59 in both directions. Containment of the Thompson Hollow Wildfire began to increase late in the month but the fire continued to burn into the beginning of May 2025.

At the same time as the Thompson Hollow Wildfire, the Hammond Rocks Wildfire also ignited during the afternoon hours of April 24th, also burning 470 acres within the Michaux State Forest. Kings Gap State Park was evacuated due to the Hammond Rocks Wildfire, with aerial support also needed to contain the second wildfire.

Wider weather episode

Prolonged dry conditions with low relative humidity values and gusty winds allowed for multiple wildfires to begin during the afternoon of April 23, 2025 in Michaux State Forest, located in southwestern Cumberland County. The wildfire originated along Shippensburg Road between Milesburn and Thompson Road and expanded quickly in size to around 2,248 acres at the wildfire's furthest extent. At the fire's peak, aerial support was enlisted to battle the fire, along with firefighting crews on the ground. Evacuations from structures began during the afternoon hours of April 24th and continued through April 25th with 20-30 residences evacuated. While the bulk of wildfire damage was contained in April 2025, wildfires continued into early May 2025. The Thompson Hollow and Hammond Rocks wildfires caused approximately $1,100,000 in tree damage along with $800,000 in suppression costs from the beginning of the wildfires in April 2025 through the early stages of May 2025.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1252493. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.