Pigeon Creek Watershed Association

To our newsletter subscribers

Thanks for subscribing! You will now receive an email copy of every blog post we make. In other words, the content you see in the newsletter and website blog posts should be identical. The advantage of signing up for the newsletter is the convenience of having the information delivered to your email inbox. You no longer need to check our website frequently. Thanks again for signing up!

Wildfire Season in Pennsylvania: Spring Surprises

Many people believe that wildfires are most common during the hot summer months. However, in western Pennsylvania, the peak season for wildfires actually occurs in the spring, specifically from March to May. This time frame is considered the prime wildfire season in Pennsylvania due to several factors:

• Weather conditions: As winter recedes, the days become longer and warmer, with dry and windy conditions prevalent.
• Lack of foliage: Trees are still bare, allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor, warming and drying out potential fuel sources like dead leaves and branches.
• Dry vegetation: Last year’s dead grass and other vegetation become extremely flammable before new growth begins.

Fall months

It’s worth noting that while spring is the primary wildfire season, Pennsylvania can also experience an elevated risk of wildfires in the fall months of October and November. However, recent data shows that spring remains the most common time for wildfires in western Pennsylvania.

Wildfire risk factors

• Fuel availability: Grasslands, fields, and forest floors with accumulated dead leaves provide ample fuel for fires.
• Low humidity: Spring often brings low relative humidity, which quickly dries out potential fuel sources.
• Human activity: With 98-99% of wildfires in Pennsylvania caused by human activities, increased outdoor activities in spring contribute to the higher occurrence of fires during this season.

Residents should exercise caution during these months, especially when engaging in activities like the burning of leaves and other debris, which is a major cause of forest fires in Pennsylvania. Here are a few fire prevention tips from the PA Department of Natural Resources:

Wildfire in Pigeon Creek watershed history

In the autumn of 1963, our watershed experienced an exceptionally severe drought that had been plaguing the region for weeks. This led to increasingly dry conditions and heightened fire risks. The firefighters of the Carroll Township Volunteer Fire Department were fatigued. They responded to 52 fires within only eight days. On Wednesday, October 16, yet another fire broke out. This time, it occurred in a derailed boxcar along what is now known as Norfolk Southern’s Ellsworth Branch, which runs adjacent to Pigeon Creek.

The following account of the fire is from the October 17, 1963, edition of The Daily Republican, which reported on the heroic efforts of the volunteer firefighters as they fought the blaze.

In the news

• Raystown Lake cancels campground reservations amid federal job cuts and hiring freezes.
• Where did $100 million in state conservation funds go?
• Shell considers selling U.S. and European chemical plants, including Beaver County facility

A new Pigeon Creek business!

Flamingo Legs Comfort Food and Catering is located at the confluence of Pigeon Creek and the Monongahela River at 243 East Main St., Monongahela, Pa. It’s a great location, right at the bottom of Cemetery Hill across from Lenzi’s Restauraunt. In addition to the restaurant they also will have their food truck parked in front of their building in the parking lot during Lent.

Calendar

Saturday, March 15, 2025 – Live Stake Planting. PCWA at Richardson Park, Bentleyville, Pa.

Saturday, March 22, 2025

• Live Stake Planting – PCWA with Ringgold students at Ringgold High School, Carroll Township, Pa.
• NatureFest! at Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 10am – 5pm. “Join Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientists, educators, and community partners for NatureFest! Browse the full schedule below and plan your day. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly fun or a deep dive into land stewardship and invasive species research, there’s programming for nature lovers of all ages.”

Tuesday, April 8, 2025 – PCWA board meeting. Monongahela, Pa.

Saturday, May 10, 2025 – PCWA Pigeon Creek trash cleanup. Carroll Township, Pa.

Tuesday, May 13, 2025 – PCWA board meeting. Monongahela, Pa.

Do you have any ideas or insights you’d like to share? If so, visit our blog and leave a comment. You can also send us an email at info@pigeoncreekwatershed.org . Either way, we’d love to hear from you!