The Hawley Fire Department responded to two brush fires on Saturday, April 19 despite burns bans being in place in both Hawley Borough and Palmyra (W) Township.

The first fire was reported as a forest fire on Owego Turnpike between Columbus Avenue and the Wangum Falls road, at 2:13 pm in Palmyra Township.

Upon arrival of Hawley First Assistant Chief Jeff Bates additional resources were requested from White Mills and Lakeville Fire companies due to a rapidly spreading fire just off Owego Turnpike. The fire was quickly knocked down as additional resources arrived and surrounded the fire.

Approximately two acres were burned over. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time, but a white vehicle was seen in the area of the fire before it was reported by people who were part of a litter picking crew. Hawley Police are asking anyone who might have seen this vehicle to contact them at 253-5752.

On scene were approximately 30 total firefighters, with a engine and brush truck from Hawley, a tanker and mini from White Mills, a Tanker, Engine and Utility Truck from Lakeville, and an Ambulance from Hawley Ambulance.

Hawley Fire Chief Eugene E. Krause was in charge of overall operations at the scene, firefighters returned to station at 4:08 pm after thoroughly soaking down the area of the fire.

At 6:43 pm, Hawley was requested to assist Lakeville Fire Company with a brush fire on the Aqua Pennsylvania property off Owego Turnpike (Old Poco North Ski Run property) near Columbus Avenue, where an approximately two-acre fire was burning near the water companies old reservoir approximately two miles off Owego Turnpike, back in the woods.

Hawley had a tanker and brush truck, Lakeville had a tanker, engine and utility truck, and White Mills had a mini and tanker, and Forest Volunteer was requested for a brush truck, but was canceled before they arrived on scene, due to the fire being contained.

Firefighters returned to station at 8:21 pm.

Fire conditions are probably the worst they have been in years, according to Chief Krause, as both of these fires had the potential to become very large out of control fires.

There are burning bans in Hawley Borough and Palmyra Township at this time, but people are continuing to do burning in barrels, and are being warned and will be fined if the fire department has to respond to any fires that they might start, according to Krause. The ban is for all outdoor burning, no matter what.