Investigation Into Massive 422, Valley Forge Brush Fire Ongoing

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — A major brush fire which razed about 15 acres of forest and parkland in Valley Forge National Park and along Route 422 has been fully extinguished, but the investigation into its cause remains ongoing.

Officials have not yet given much hint as to how they believe it may have started, though fire conditions were ripe on the day it began and dry and windy weather exacerbated the flames.

"Residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any signs of fire activity to emergency services," Lower Providence Fire Chief James Letz said. "Residents may continue to see smoke in the area."

DCNR and National Park firefighters remained on the scene for days after the blaze was contained, cutting down dead trees with chain saws and searching for bits of fire lingering in dead and dry trees.

The fire was one of the more severe and dramatic in the local area in recent history, shutting down Route 422 eastbound for hours as crews needed to use the road to access the woods where the fire burned.

Officials said further updates on the investigation would be provided as they became available.

It began on Thursday afternoon, March 13, at around 5 p.m. in the Betzwood section of Lower Providence Township, near the intersection of Valley Lane and Nester Drive.

Officials categorized the brush as "extremely dry" during the blaze, allowing the fire to jump quickly through the park.

Several trucks, UTVs, tankers, and engine companies from across Montgomery, Chester, Berks, and Bucks counties arrived to assist. Water tankers were loaded into UTVs and smaller vehicles from 422, and then driven into the brush, authorities said. It took about two hours to contain the fire to a designated area filled with firefighters and fire lines.

Local crews remained on the scene putting out hot spots until 9 p.m. that night.