Major Brush Fire Burns 15 Acres Of Valley Forge Along Route 422

LOWER PROVIDENCE, PA — A major brush fire swept through a large swath of Valley Forge National Park Thursday afternoon, rapidly spreading in ideal fire conditions and shutting down a portion of Route 422.

The cause of the blaze is not yet clear. No injuries have been reported.

The incident began at around 5 p.m. in the Betzwood section of Lower Providence Township, near the intersection of Valley Lane and Nester Drive.

Crews struggled to access the fire, which started amid brush and grass, due to the terrain and the strength of the blaze, the Lower Providence Fire Department said.

"Due to moderate winds and extremely dry brush, the fire advanced very quickly further West into the park and into heavy timber and woodlands," the department added.

Route 422 eastbound was the only access point into the blaze, which forced authorities to shut down a stretch of the road as several brush 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.

A total of 15 acres of land burned.

Local crews remained on the scene putting out hot spots until 9 p.m., while state DCNR forest fire wardens maintained a fire line on scene overnight, scoping out the entire burn area to make sure the blaze did not reignite.

Officials will remain throughout the area on Friday to continue to monitor the situation, but officials said they believe it is "100 percent contained." Smoke is likely to be seen throughout the day Friday.

Authorities are hopeful that Sunday's rainfall will help fully resolve the situation.