One firefighter was taken to the hospital as crews worked on fighting a large brush fire last night in Burrell Township, Armstrong County.
The brush fire was in the area of Iron Bridge and Rearick’s Fording Road and was called in at 5:10 PM on Friday. Crews were on the scene for over 3 hours to put out the fire that had spread to about seven acres of brush, but no buildings were damaged. The firefighter that was sent to the hospital was not identified in reports, but it was said by fire officials on scene that the firefighter had overexerted himself and had trouble breathing. Fire crews had to deal with the area being remote and steep while they fought the fire. The cause of the fire was a tree that blew into some power lines.
This was one of several brush fires reported yesterday as conditions were ripe for brush fires. Dry grounds and windy conditions mean that even a small ember could turn into a large fire. Five brush fires were reported yesterday in Indiana County alone. Aultman, Coal Run/McIntyre, and Iselin/West Lebanon fire departments were called out for a brush fire at 11:18 on Route 186 in Blacklick Township. At 1:39 PM, Clyde and Armagh fire departments were called for a fire on Clyde Road in West Wheatfield Township. Coral-Graceton and Brush Valley Fire Departments were dispatched to a brush fire on Luciusboro Road at 3:21 PM, and Homer City fire department was called in to asisst. Commodore fire department was called to a fire in Green Township on Valle y Road at 3:33, with Clymer fire department called in later to help out. And Brush Valley, Vintondale, Cherryhill and Armagh fire department were all called to help with a brush fire on Ewings Road in Buffington Township at 4:38 PM. There was also a brush fire reported in nearby Ligonier.
