For those of you that haven't heard.
http://readingeagle.com/articl.....?id=378727

Brush fire rages at French Creek
Homes evacuated; threat to fireworks factory minimized
A huge brush fire that began Monday in southeastern Berks County and forced the evacuation of homes near French Creek State Park has yet to be contained, emergency officials said this morning.

Firefighters from several Berks and northern Chester County companies battled wind-whipped flames well into the night. The fire was first reported about noon near Route 345 and Hopewell Street in Union Township, just south of Birdsboro.

Exhausted crews had to leave to get some rest knowing that it will take at least one more day to put out all of the flames, which have spread into North Coventry Township in Chester, a county communications center supervisor said.

Residents were evacuated from homes in the area. The American Red Cross, Berks County Chapter, and the Berks County Department of Emergency Services set up a shelter at the Immaculate Conception Church social hall in Union Township. Food and beverages were available at the shelter, and the Berks sheriff's department was providing security.

The cause of the fire will be investigated when it's under control.

More than 30 state and local agencies from Berks, Chester and neighboring counties were working throughout the night to battle the blaze.

Smoke from the fire could be seen from as far away as Reading and Pottstown throughout the afternoon.

Many firefighters spent most of the day outside the International Fireworks Manufacturing Co. on Sycamore Road in Union Township as the fire burned within a half-mile of the complex.

"If this thing goes, the best place to get a photo of it will be from the Pagoda on Mount Penn," said one fire official, referencing the Reading landmark nearly 20 miles away.

By late Monday, officials from the Department of Emergency Services said the fireworks factory did not appear to be in the line of the blaze any longer.

Firefighters went into the factory, obtained paperwork about explosives at the site and prepared a plan of action. Several large buildings at the site were filled with professional-grade fireworks, officials said. And at least one building was filled with black powder.

Firefighters on ATVs scouted the fire line over a hill behind the fireworks factory throughout the day and night. A plant official told firefighters there were "a lot" of explosive materials at the site. Firefighters said they were not sure how many tons of explosives were at the site or what they would do if the fire reached it.

All the roads in the area were closed and firefighters went door to door telling residents to evacuate. Pets were being accepted at the Humane Society of Berks County.

One of the problems facing firefighters was the inability to communicate with one another because they were spread over such a large area and using different radio frequencies.

At one point, fire officials from Chester County drove to meet Berks fire officials outside the fireworks plant.

They pulled out topographical maps and compared notes on the hood of a fire chief's truck, talking about where to station manpower and equipment.

They used notepads to sum up the different engines, tankers, brush trucks and personnel from various companies.

It was impossible to reach officials at the main emergency operations center in Hopewell Village because all the surrounding roads were clogged with firetrucks. Smaller command posts were set up in both counties.

Firefighters on jeeps and ATVs were shuttling equipment and personnel back and forth as they fought the fire in the woods of French Creek State Park.

An attempt was made to widen fire access lanes and trails to get bigger equipment closer to the fire.

Officials said they expected the fire to burn out of control until at least today and possibly Wednesday as strong winds and tree branches knocked down during a freak Halloween snowstorm last year continued to fuel the fire.

The wind was so strong that fire officials said they could not use airplanes to drop water on the fire, as they did last week at another large brush fire in Alsace Township.

The fire pushed from Berks County into Chester as the sun went down and the front line of the blaze appeared to be along St. Peters Road.

Contact Jason A. Kahl: 610-371-5024 or jkahl@readingeagle.com.