Crews Battle Brush Fires Across PA As Red Flag Warning Continues

PENNSYLVANIA — Windy, dry conditions prompted numerous brush and forest fires across Pennsylvania and New Jersey Sunday, as the region remains under a Red Flag Warning throughout the day Monday.

The most significant of the fires reported in the region is along the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey. That fire continued to burn Monday morning. The 162-acre forest fire has damaged at least 29 homes, forced hundreds to evacuate and on Sunday closed the Parkway and Route 70. The roadway has since reopened.

Brush and forest fires were reported across Pennsylvania Sunday.

A Sunday afternoon fire in Wrightstown Township closed a portion of Swamp Road, and crews from multiple fire companies were called in to assist, police there said.

In York County, a forest fire burned for more than six hours on Sunday, WGAL reported.

Two fires were reported in Chester County Sunday: a fire broke out in a barn in Pocopson Township and another one was reported in Kennett Square, Action News reported.

Meanwhile, the Red Flag Warning is in place across the Philadelphia region through 5 p.m. Monday.

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are expected due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels.

Impacted areas include southeastern Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley, most of New Jersey, all of Delaware and parts of eastern Maryland. Wind gusts of around 25 mph are expected.

"Any fires that develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult to contain," the National Weather Service warned.

Officials advise against any outdoor fires. Cigarettes should not be discarded outdoors.