Started out as a vegetation fire. Shortly blew up into a full blown forest fire. Over 26 companies from 7 different counties. Plus DCNR, PGC, Ambulance services and a local search and rescue. It's moving fast in 3 different directions.

Did this start out as a controlled burn?

Not sure. Some are saying it was. But there are conflicting reports on who was doing it. I'm pretty sure that's state forest land so it would've been DCNR. Others are saying it was the PGC doing one. So who knows. Probably won't truly know until tomorrow.

They are having a hard time getting people in to fight it. The terrain is extremely steep in that area.

there's another one in Centre County.

We’re still in a burn ban here just for this reason.

There's atleast 7 going on up here right now.

PennDOT just denied the fire depts request for fuel while they're fighting this Elk County fire.

That’s nice.

someone needs to point that out to the Press

Government politics! I am SO glad I retired last month.

They closed it at 9:05 local time. Recalled them all back at 9:30 for a rekindle.

Hope everyone stays safe. Just got home myself from 4 different fires this evening. All arson. Don’t understand the mentality.

There was an initial report it was a controlled burn by the owner of a local fire wire Facebook page. He has since rescinded that and apologized. He put it on the wrong post about the fire in Elk County. There was a controlled burn done about 50 miles south on Tuesday. They do not know if the fire in that area on Wednesday is related to the burn or not.

In total the were at least 9 fires in the area.

only about a 10 min drive from my camp to the fire.
hope all is good up there

Where's your camp??

The PGC did a controlled burn on SGL88 near me yesterday, smoked the whole valley up.

guess its prolly more like 15-20 mins maybe.
Kane Road off 555
at the bottom of the Caledonia Pike

I know where you're at.
The second possible fire was reported somewhere around there. The fire dept couldn't find it. The story circulating is that it was put out quickly by locals.

T

Why do burns in the Fall? Ours are always late Winter/early Spring. After a rain that burn looks like a freshly planted green field. Seems in the Fall/Winter it would just be barren and subject to erosion.