Leaf burning spreads to neighbor's shed

PINE TOWNSHIP — Midday leaf burning spread out of control and damaged a neighbor's shed near the Linesville Beach in Pymatuning Reservoir, according to Assistant Chief Bill Mickle of Linesville Volunteer Fire Department (VFD).

The fire at 3600 Maple Drive started when leaves burning in one yard spread to leaves in the neighbor's yard and then spread to the shed, Mickle said, calling the fire "completely accidental." The siding on the shed, which was not insured, was damaged but the shed remained standing, according to Mickle.

The incident came on a day when the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) forecast a high danger for fire. Allen Clark, emergency management agency coordinator for Crawford County, posted the DCNR forecast to the Crawford County Emergency Preparedness and Public Health Facebook group Saturday afternoon.

"Hey, it's not a good idea to burn stuff outside tomorrow," Clark wrote in a message accompanying a map of the state showing all but four of 67 counties at high risk for fire. "Let's be careful and prevent any fires from starting, okay?"

Clark reiterated the message on social media Monday, asking residents to wait for rain before burning outside.

Mickle said the fire that damaged the shed was one of four brush fires that Linesville VFD responded to in less than 24 hours.

Firefighters spent approximately one hour extinguishing the Maple Drive fire, according to Mickle. Nearly an acre was burning at its worst, he added.

"It was a typical brush fire that caught a shed on fire," Mickle said.

North Shenango, Conneaut Lake and Summit Township volunteer fire departments also responded.