After Battling 24 Hours, Firefighters Extinguish Solebury Brush Fire

SOLEBURY TOWNSHIP, PA — After battling for 24 hours, fire crews on Saturday evening extinguished an extensive brush fire bordered by Lower Mountain Road, Aquetong Road and Stoney Hill Road.

While some emergency personnel may still be on the scene, all roadways have now been reopened to traffic, Solebury Police said.

The fire erupted Friday afternoon and continued to burn overnight and throughout much of the day on Saturday scorching 15 acres of extremely dry woodlands.

Midway Volunteer Fire Company established and led the command while Bucks County 911 put in what firefighters are calling "a herculean effort" to dispatch resources to the fire scene.

Firefighters from throughout Bucks County and from neighboring Montgomery County and Hunterdon County, New Jersey, spent hours on the scene working to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading.

Crews fought the fire with hose lines, tanker trucks, engine trucks, and all terrain vehicles. The firefighters were also assisted by numerous private contractors, which provided brush clearing equipment to cut fire lines and access “roads."

(Doylestown Fire Company No. 1)

"This lengthy and exhaustive task could not have occurred without the assistance of a multitude of volunteers who came to our aid yesterday, overnight and throughout the day today," posted the Midway Volunteer Fire Company on Facebook on Saturday. "Tomorrow, our fire chiefs will thoroughly reassess the fire scene to further ensure no hot spots pop up in the overnight hours.

"Our area and all of Bucks County remains in a no burning ban which will stay in effect until conditions change," wrote the firefighters. "All of us involved in firefighting urge everyone in our area to abide by this restriction with no exception as our dry conditions and breezy weather is a firefighter’s worst nightmare. Let us be clear. There is zero tolerance for any open burning, fireworks or any activity that risks additional fire."