SHAMOKIN - Recent warm and dry temperatures have contributed to numerous brush fires in the region, including three more reported Saturday afternoon.
Area firefighters and employees from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources were pressed into service for several hours to battle brush fires in Mount Carmel Township and Coal Township. The fires, which reportedly burned acres of wooded property, occurred on the Merriam Mountain, an area known as the "Crater" near the Strong Connector, and the "Pit" above the Glen Burn culm bank.
The fire at the "Crater" was reported at 1:32 p.m. and extinguished at 2:44 p.m. The fire on the Merriam Mountain was dispatched by Northumberland County Communications Center at 2:54 p.m. and cleared at 6:05 p.m. The fire on top of the Glen Burn culm bank was reported at 3:50 p.m. and lasted until 6:24 p.m.