Oakmont fire chief warns residents about second round of brush fire season
With the second round of brush fire season upon us, Oakmont Fire Chief Joseph Flanick is being proactive in stopping fires before they start.
Factors such as dry weather, windy days and fallen autumn leaves creating a thick layer of dry fuel all contribute to the quick spread of brush fires.
Flanick released “open burning” information through the borough’s Facebook page in an effort to mitigate the risks of brush fires this autumn.
In accordance with regulations stipulated by the Allegheny County Health Department, recreational fire pits can be no larger than 2 feet high and 3 feet wide by 3 feet long. Open burns must be at least 15 feet from the nearest sidewalk, road, public access area and neighbor’s home.
Open burns should only be fueled by clean wood, propane or natural gas. Commercially available fire logs, paraffin logs, wood pellets, paper and commercial smokeless fire starters are exceptions to the regulation.
Charcoal is only allowed to be burned to prepare food.
Wood-burning activities are prohibited on air quality action days, with some exceptions. Residents are encouraged to enroll in the county’s alert system to stay up to date about when action days are scheduled.
The state experienced the first bout of brush fire season in March, when vegetation fires tore through West Deer, Penn Hills, Plum, New Kensington, Jefferson Township and Donegal Township. During that time, Armstrong County averaged “a couple of brush fires per day,” according to the DCNR.
An overwhelming majority of the fires are man-made. According to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry, 99% of wildfires in Pennsylvania are caused by people.
Some this year were caused by sparks from an electrical line on a utility pole. Some were caused by train wheels sparking on a track and igniting dry vegetation. Others were started by people burning yard waste and debris.
The state had almost 1,500 fires that affected 3,276 acres last year.
Haley Daugherty is a TribLive reporter covering local politics, feature stories and Allegheny County news. A native of Pittsburgh, she lived in Alabama for six years. She joined the Trib in 2022 after graduating from Chatham University. She can be reached at hdaugherty@triblive.com.
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