Tuesday, April 14, 2015

DCNR Warning Anglers, Others of High Wildfire Danger

Harrisburg, PA – With the approach of Pennsylvania’s traditional statewide trout season opener on April 18, and a rash of recent wildfires, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is urging anglers, property owners and others to take steps to prevent forest and brush fires.

“We ask trout anglers and other forest visitors to be extremely careful because fire danger is increasing rapidly across much of the state,” said DCNR Acting Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “One act of carelessness could prove disastrous among tinder-dry conditions in some of our forests, where wildfire dangers climb with each day of sun and wind. We remind folks also to be careful with campfires and backyard burning, and to take the proper precautions at all times.”


Open fires are forbidden on state forestland from March 1 through May 25, and when the fire danger is listed as high, very high or extreme.

In recent days, volunteer and Bureau of Forestry firefighters have responded to more than 30 fires that scorched more than 100 acres.