CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — Fall brush fire season is keeping Franklin County firefighters busy, with the Franklin Fire Co. near Chambersburg responding to spot fires along Interstate 81 on Saturday, Oct. 24.
October and November are among Pennsylvania’s peak months for wildfire danger, along with March, April and May, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry.
Low humidity, dry conditions and wind help fuel brush fires and wildfires, the agency says. Human activity causes the vast majority of those fires.
DCNR urges residents to use caution and avoid open burning when fire danger is high.
When conditions allow for open burning, residents should clear the area around the fire, keep the fire small and have water and a rake nearby to extinguish embers. Fires should be thoroughly doused with water until the ashes are cool to the touch.
Drivers who smoke should never toss cigarettes out of vehicle windows because they can ignite roadside brush.
