Highland Orchards Fire Update #3 from the West Bradford Fire Company

From the West Bradford Fire Company:

Highland Orchards Fire Update #3

Over the past few weeks, the West Bradford Fire Co personnel have been meeting and communicating with the staff of Highland Orchards as well as visiting the site of the fire twice daily. WBFC has also been in constant contact with officials and staff of West Bradford Township providing them with updates on the incident. As the fire continues to burn, orchard staff will keep up with removing large logs to reduce the fire load. As WBFC and Highland Orchard officials continue to meet, the next step in the plan for the fire is to begin covering the pile with soil to attempt to smother the fire as well as attempt to reduce the smoke, this work will begin as soon as Thursday March 3 2022 weather permitting. During the course of this incident the fire company has been monitoring smoke and hazard conditions in surrounding neighborhoods effected by the smoke path. We would also like to confirm that the contents of the pile that is burning is in fact organic material, (brush, tree waste, woody materials). Although the fire may have appeared out of control those first few nights, at no time was there danger of fire spreading to neighboring properties as the fire was contained and crews were on site and standing by for that reason. We have worked with Highland Orchards staff to create and maintain fire breaks and to reduce the fire load by removing large, unburnt or partially burnt materials. At this time the staff of Highland Orchards is continuing to maintain a fire watch 24/7 and will continue until determined otherwise. We would like to again thank everyone for the continued support the past several weeks. We hope everyone remains safe and healthy and ready for Spring to finally arrive!!