By PATRICIA INGLES

Special to The Press

Firefighters on the scene of a massive wildfire on the Blue Mountain were working on a controlled back burn Nov. 3 to minimize damage.

Lehigh Township Fire Department said in a post Sunday night crews would create open areas between the homes on Timberline Road and the burning section of the mountain.

“If the weather and winds are ideal, the plan is to ignite a line of fire to burn up to the active fire, in a controlled manner,” the post stated.

“This will create a safe barrier to the homes below. This is a commonly used technique.”

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources began the controlled burn the night of Nov. 3.

Back burning is used to create a slow-moving fire that consumes fuel and prevents a wildfire from spreading.

The fires are set to burn against the wind, which makes them slower and more controllable.

Fire departments staged from the 4500-4900 block of Timberline Road, along the residences.

The fire department said at 9:30 p.m. the evening operation began, as the day shift crews ended their 12-14 hour shift and passed operations to the DCNR State Wildland crews.

“The fire is moving slowly down the mountain as planned and the back burn secured the southwest area,” the fire department said. “There are crews all around the fire overnight working.

“They will be in structural protection locations into the morning.”

The department said more fire may be visible as the fire enters its second night. The fire originally broke out early Saturday afternoon.

Firefighters from three counties have been on scene, as well as the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Greenawalds, Emerald, Salisbury, Schnecksville, Tri-Clover, New Tripoli, Lynnport, Germansville and Kempton, Berks County, are among the fire companies providing resources.

Additional departments from Lehigh County are also on standby, ready to assist as needed.

Greg Reese, DCNR spokesman, said at a Nov. 4 morning briefing that so far 180 acres have burned along the mountain outside of Palmerton.

Area residents reported on Sunday night more flames were visible from Palmerton and for miles. Ash has fallen in yards of residents.

There are reports of smelling smoke as far away as Luzerne and Berks counties.

Reese said no structures have been damaged. A hose line is set up behind homes on Timberline Road in Lehigh Township.

Crews are cutting lines in the ground to box the fire in so it will burn itself out.

“Airdrops are making progress,” he said.

Ninety percent of the land that has burned is state game lands.

In addition to DCNR, more than 200 volunteer firefighters have been on scene, along with representatives of the state game commission and National Park Service.

Wesley Robinson, press secretary for DCNR, said on Nov. 4 the fire is about 28 percent contained.

“We do not have a cause and there likely will not be any info on a cause until after the fire has been suppressed,” Robinson said. “There is no time frame for suppression at this point.”

Assistant Chief Brian Krische, of Lehigh Township Fire Company, said the following on Sunday.

“Three helicopters will be putting water on the fire today. We have our heavy equipment working to make fire breaks, which puts a gap in vegetation or other combustible material that acts as a barrier to slow or stop the progress of a brushfire or wildfire.”

He said fresh crews of firefighters were armed with leaf blowers, gas for equipment, hedge trimmers and saws to form a line behind the homes and clear away trees, leaves and any other combustible material behind the homes on Timberline Road.

“This is just a precaution,” he said.

Krische had checked to see how many fire personnel were also EMTs to make sure they had medical assistance in case of emergency on the mountain.

A command center was set up at the Lehigh Township Municipal Building.

Beth Ritter-Guth, a Palmerton resident who takes care of the Appalachian Trail in that area, said the terrain is rocky, making it difficult for firefighters to access.

The outpouring of donations has been so intense the fire department asked people to hold off on any further supplies because they are out of storage room.

The line of residents was backed up a half-mile at the command station in Lehigh Township Sunday morning.

“The amount of support is overwhelming. The community coming together like this is like nothing we have ever seen. From the bottom of our hearts ... Thank you!” the department posted.

“Please, if you purchased anything already, save it for your family. We didn’t expect this outpouring and are completely stocked,” Lehigh Township fire department posted early Sunday afternoon.

Supplies were being taken at other departments, Palmerton, Bowmanstown and Slatington, but Northampton County Office of Emergency Management said they have an abundance of food and drinks.

Lehigh Township has requested monetary donations at this link: bit.ly/40x5JDf to give money for hot meals. Many restaurants have also donated meals.

Carbon County has issued a countywide burn ban in response to the dry conditions and brush fire incidents.

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Editor’s note: Terry Ahner and Marta Gouger contributed to this article.