Wildfire — Fayette Ridges, Pennsylvania

2021-04-08 to 2021-04-09 · Fayette Ridges, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

Ed Callahan, district forester of Forbes State Forest, said it is among the worst forest fires in region in the past decade. The forest includes more than 60,000 acres stretching from Ohiopyle north through Somerset and Westmoreland counties.

The first fire, along Dunbar Road in a state game lands, was reported just after 5 p.m. Thursday and consumed more than 250 acres before firefighters were able to extinguish the flames at around 1 a.m. Friday, Fayette County 911 officials said.

A second fire was reported a short time later near Victoria Flats and Rock Spring roads. That blaze destroyed more than 200 acres of woods along the Youghiogheny River before crews were able to get it under control. Gusty winds that blew through the area Thursday helped spread the fires. 74 crews from departments in Westmoreland and Fayette responded to the incidents along with teams from the state's forestry department.

Article: https://triblive.com/local/regional/ohiopyle-area-returning-to-normal-after-forest-fires/.

Wider weather episode

Two forest fires at opposite ends of Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County consumed nearly 500 acres of woodlands on April 8th. A fire along South Dunbar Road burned more than 250 acres of state game land. The second also burned more than 200 acres at the opposite end of the park near Victoria Flats and Rock Spring roads.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 955047. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.