06/03/06 Firefighters Battle Fire at Pallet Company in Northampton County

The plume of smoke could be seen from miles away--- all from a trash fire burning out of control in Northampton County. It made for a busy afternoon for firefighters. Nearly a dozen different companies from three counties were called in to help put out the fire.

WFMZ's Jaccii Farris has our top story from Lower Saucon Township.

CHIEF LYNN KACK:
"Somebody just burning trash and wind might have kicked up and taken it away.
Reporter:
Fire crews say at one time the flames were 8 to 10 feet high...and started after a trash fire in this pit got out of control.
A heavy amount of fire in the pallet area and brush area we wanted to contain it so it didn't get into the rest of the brush."
Reporter:
Within an hour fire crews tamed the flames...reducing them to smoky embers and flickering remnants of a blaze the could have been much worse.
Brush crews tackled the back end of the fire's one acre reach...while nine fire crews from around the area went at it from the front.
Making sure that there's no chance that we can get a rekindle on this fire."
Reporter:
Through a thick screen of smoke, crews raked the what looked like smoldering coals...and doused hot spots.
Right now, Northampton County isn't under a burn ban...but Fire officials say burning trash is not a good idea.
Don't plain and simple don't do it if it gets away on you and creates a real problem the forestry service can and most likely will finer people depending on the size of the fire and the amount of damage."
Jaccii Farris:
Fire crews spent the afternoon cutting open and cutting down trees to make sure there was no fire inside the trunks. It's unknown if the property owner will be cited.
In Lower Saucon Township, Jaccii Farris 69 News.