Wildfire, Fayette Ridges
- When
- April 8, 5:00 PM EST to April 9, 1:00 AM EST
- Where
- Fayette Ridges forecast zone
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
- Coordinates
- 39.920, -79.647 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
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/.