McKean Township, PA – This evening, at around 5 PM, McKean Hose Company was dispatched to a reported brush fire near 8400 Pagan Road. 40L8 proceeded to the scene while Chief 400 responded to the station. Upon arrival, 40L8 requested assistance from two additional companies for brush trucks and asked Chief 400 to bring Brush Truck 409.

Once on scene and with a better assessment of the situation, 40L8 reported an active fire spreading across approximately five acres, advancing quickly northward. Chief 400 was advised of the fire’s size, and the need for the Crawford Erie County Wildland Fire Crew was established. In the early stages of the operation, Lake City was requested to deploy a drone for aerial surveillance, helping ensure complete containment and to monitor for any embers that could ignite downwind.

Tanker 435 was positioned at a hydrant on Pagan Road to fill brush trucks. On the fireground, crews began by cutting a fireline around the perimeter, while additional teams used Indian tanks to apply water in areas beyond the reach of forestry hoses. After establishing a fireline, crews reinforced it and commenced mop-up procedures to fully secure the area. The CEC Wildlands Crew assisted by cutting down trees that had ignited.

Assisting McKean on scene included the support of Edinboro, Perry-Hi-Way, and the Crawford Erie County Wildland Fire Crew.

The cause of the fire is due to an uncontrolled outside fire. Today’s incident underscores the heightened fire threat due to the unusually dry conditions this season. Despite recent light rain, the area remains highly susceptible to fire, with dry fuel, low relative humidity, and breezy conditions creating ideal circumstances for rapid fire growth and spread. Even small fires can become difficult to control under these conditions. To help prevent further risk, please take extra caution outdoors and avoid burning activities during this dry spell.