Brush Fire In Bristol Twp. Could Burn For Days

A large brush fire ignited Wednesday night in Delhaas Woods at Silver Lake Park in Bristol Township and led to multiple fire companies and state wildland firefighters responding.

The fire was initially reported at 9:45 p.m. in the woods between Bath Road and Veterans Highway (Route 413). It was initially was difficult to locate, but it was spotted and found to be a spreading brush fire in the wooded area, according to Third District Fire Company Chief Howard McGoldrick.

The blaze was fueled by natural vegetation, leaves, and plant debris. It spread was mostly unpredictable as it moved under the ground cover, the chief said.

In total, two or four acres were burned across a 12-acre section of county park property, officials determined.

“Numerous trees have burned and need to be cut down for safety reasons and to prevent embers from dropping and spreading the fire,” McGoldrick stated.

To combat the fire, Bristol Township and Bucks County government deployed heavy equipment to cut a containment line around the part of the park that was burning.

Despite the firefighting efforts, officials expect the blaze will continue to burn for several days within the containment zone.

Smoke from the fire has hung over parts of the area and could be smelled as far away as Fairless Hills early Thursday.

The Third District Fire Company was assisted by the Croydon, Bristol Consolidated, Falls, Lingohocken, Newport, and Newportville fire companies. The Bucks County Emergency Management Agency, Bristol Township Public Works, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources were out from 9:45 p.m. until 5 a.m.

State wildland firefighters employed sprinklers on Thursday and will return Friday to continue combating the remaining fire.

McGoldrick said the fire’s cause was likely due to individuals burning wire to extract copper.

The brush fire came amid the region’s dry conditions that had sparked a number of other fires. The last measurable rainfall in the area was recorded on September 28.

In response to the dry conditions and ongoing fire risks, Bucks County implemented a burn ban.

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