PRESS PHOTOS BY SCOTT M. NAGY A helicopter from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Department of Forestry fills up in the Lehigh River as it battles a fire that broke out May 1 on Blue Mountain in Lehigh Township.

Water is dumped from the helicopter onto the fire, which brought out nearly 20 emergency response agencies and resulted in the shutdown of Route 248 in both directions between Lehigh Gap and Berlinsville.

The fire on Blue Mountain could be seen for miles. Firefighters tackled the flames from the ground and from the sky. Some fought by foot, and others used utility terrain vehicles to access flames on the rocky and steep slopes. In all, the fire encompassed about 10 miles.