Photos from the fireline
Crystal Lake Fire
April, 14 2023
As a week of high fire danger weather continued, the crew was called the morning after the Cherry Fire to respond to the rapidly growing Crystal Lake fire. Located up near Mountain Top, PA, the Crystal Lake fire ultimately grew to over 5,000 acres, closing a stretch of the Northeast extension of the PA turnpike, and threatening hundreds of structures. Northern Bucks responded with a crew of 8, and was assigned to the Bravo division of the fire. The crew worked a full day, holding line on a burnout, utilizing engine 907 to pump hundreds of gallons of water to douse hot spots and helped bring the division into full containment by evening.
Cherry Fire
April, 13 2023
A dry spell led to a very busy week of wildfires across the northeast, with Pennsylvania being no exception. NBWFC was first called to a small wildfire near Bear Creek mountain resort, which quickly grew and ended up burning over 22 acres of woodland in a residential area. NBWFC responded with a crew of 8 and assisted units on location, including air attack, in ensuring the fire reached full containment. Assigned to work from the fire origin and up across the right flank, the crew dug hand line, reinforced blower containment lines, and worked with a local engine to extinguish hot spots and hold the line. The fire was fully contained that evening.
Coopersburg fire & controlled burn
March, 2023
NBWFC was called to a small fire this spring in Coopersburg PA, where the crew responded with a small module and assisted with basic suppression efforts and mop up. In addition, this month the crew assisted on a 5 acre RX burn in Birdsboro, PA with DCNR. The burn was on state controlled gamelands and was completed on March 21st.
Blue Mountain Fire
May 1, 2022
Called to the Blue Mountain again, a location the crew has fought multiple fires over the years, NBWFC responded with a small module of firefighters and assisted with tying in a hose lay on the Appalachian trail, and engaging in fire suppression along with felling hazard snags led by lead sawyer Chris Mast. The fire was later determined to have been intentionally set.
Susquehana Gorge Fire
12/2021
In December of 2021, the crew was called to a small fire in the Susquehanna gorge of PA. Responding with a small module of 5, the crew did mop up and worked to locate and extinguish hotspots on the fire line.
Seven Pines fire
11/19/2020
In Late November of 2020, in a rare fall fire season call, the crew was dispatched to the Seven Pines Fire on Seven Pines mountain in state Game lands 221, near Mt. Pocono in North eastern PA. The crew battled a small but growing fire, working direct and coupling their suppression efforts with work from local helitack crews.
NS130 Wildfire
5/20/2020 - 5/21/2020
Dispatched late in the day on May 20th, 2020, Northern Bucks Wildfire Crew headed north to the Lehigh Gorge to fight what became known as the NS130 wildfire. The crew worked through the night battling the blaze by performing a burnout operation and putting in handline.
Mount Penn Pagoda Fire
11/25/2016 - 11/26/2016
In a rare fall fire season dispatch, NBWFC was sent to Mount Penn, above the city of Reading, for a fire that ended up consuming close to 50 acres of forest. The fire, adjacent to the landmark Pagoda, started under suspicious circumstances, and quickly tore across the mountainside above the city. NBWFC arrived and assisted with a burnout operation in steep terrain along Skyline drive to stop the spread of the fire and were able to get the fire completely under control before any structures, or the Pagoda itself, were damaged.
Dan Schantz Farm fire
1/3/2017
On January 3rd, 2017, Northern Bucks was dispatched with surrounding structural firefighting companies to the Dan Schantz farm, where a greenhouse fire had erupted into a 3 alarm blaze in Lower Milford Township. NBWFC was requested to monitor the nearby woods and brush areas, as the fire had grown to such a size that there was concern of spread due to the prevailing weather conditions of the evening. THe crew monitored throughout the evening until the fire and spread risk were declared under control.
The Cresco Complex
4/21/2016 - 4/25/2016
On April 20th, NBWFC was dispatched to what was, at the time of dispatch, an hours old, but rapidly growing pair of fires in Pike and Monroe counties, Northeast PA. The larger of the two fires at 900 acres was the 16 Mile Fire, while the smaller of the two, the Beartown Road Fire, was burning about 300 acres but threatening structures.
NBWFC was assigned to the Beartown Road fire and worked overnight into Thursday, 4/21 on a successful 200+ acre burnout operation to protect nearby homes. The crew worked an additional operational period on 4/21 doing extensive saw work on the fire. NBWFC was called again the following day to provide overnight structure protection with engine 907 and a crew.
On 4/24, NBWFC was again recalled for what was two 16 hour operation periods lasting through 4/25, assigned to the 16 mile fire, which ultimately grew to 8000+ acres. The crew worked extensively in division Yankee to secure and protect dozer line, doing heavy saw work, line improvement, direct attack and burnout operations. The Cresco Complex, as the two fires eventually became known, ended up being the 2nd largest wildfire in PA state history, costing the state more than 4 million dollars to contain.
Jack Frost Mountain
5/3/2015
On Sunday, 5/3/15, NBWFC was dispatched to assist on a fire on Jack Frost Mountain in Carbon County, PA. Initially sized at 30 acres, the blaze grew to 165 acres on the first day before ultimately spreading to over 600 acres. Northern Bucks spent two overnights on the mountain with Engine 907 and Trailer 907. NBWFC worked with other crews and performed direct attack, saw operations, burnout operations, patrolled fire line and extinguished hot spots with wet and dry mop up.
Lower Saucon Twp & Blue Mountain fires
4/18/2015
On 4.18.15, NBWFC was dispatched to assist on a wildfire in Lower Saucon Township township, Northampton County. The crew arrived and assisted DCNR for over 3 hours, doing extensive mop up and saw operations.
Soon after, the crew was dispatched to assist on a fire on the Blue Mountain which had grown to hundreds of acres. The crew arrived around 2100hrs and worked throughout the night, coordinating with multiple resources, cutting hot line and assisting DCNR with size up and achievement of tactical objectives. After spending all night on the mountain, the crew was released by command at 0500hrs the following morning.
Hanover Township & Blue Mountain Fire
4/6/2015
On 4.6.15, NBWFC was dispatched to assist on two wildfires in district 17. The first was a 7 acre blaze in Hanover Township, Montgomery county. The crew arrived 15 strong and assisted local resources patrolling fire line, felling trees with two sawyer teams and mopping up.
The crew was soon redirected from the Hanover fire to a 25-30 acre blaze on the top of the Blue Mountain in the Lehigh Valley. There, members patrolled the fireline from 1700hrs until 0500hrs the next morning. The crew made certain the fire remained under control by locating and extinguishing hot spots with patrols throughout the night.
French Creek Fire
4/9/2012
The Hopewell Fire, or French Creek Fire, occurred in spring 2012 and was located next to the Hopewell Furnace National Park (French Creek State Park). The total size of the fire was approximately 741 acres. This fire turned out to be one of the costliest fires in Pennsylvania state history.
In all, NBWFC had roughly 30 crew members respond and crews logged a total of about 550 man hours while working to battle the blaze, including 10 hours of pump time for Engine 907. Crew members spent several nights and days over a week with numerous other local fire companies to help contain and extinguish the blaze.
Lower Saucon Valley call
4/17/2012
NBWFC was called to a fire which had broken out in Lower Saucon Valley, PA, in Northampton County. It was roughly a 10 acre fire caused by a downed power line on a hillside overlooking the Lehigh Canal. NBWFC responded with a crew of about 8 members, and worked with local resources to help contain and extinguish the blaze by cutting fire line and working with dozers to improve dozer lines. The crew also engaged in saw operations and dug a cup trench on the hillside until they could continue no further due to steep grades.
