Only 10% of Allegheny National Forest fire in Tidioute contained; New Mexico firefighters arrive Saturday

A wildfire has scorched about 150 acres in the Allegheny National Forest in the Tidioute area, Warren County, since Thursday with only 10% of the fire contained Friday afternoon, said Wendy Andersen, spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service, Allegheny National Forest.

No one has been injured and all forest service facilities are protected.

Firefighters continued efforts overnight Thursday into Friday.

A firefighters hotshot crew from New Mexico is arriving Saturday to assist, Andersen said.

There is a temporary flight restriction, including drones, over the fire and 5 miles beyond the perimeter, she said.

The wildfire was detected just before 12:30 p.m. on Thursday and spread to the Allegheny National Forest, according to the forest service.

The fire at one point was estimated to be between 50 and 100 acres. The origin of the fire is still unknown.

The Tidioute Volunteer Fire Department was first on scene with reinforcements from fire crews from other nearby volunteer fire departments, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service.

The multiple agencies responding are working together and saved forest structures so far, according to the Forest Service. Effort to douse the fire by air included flights by a single engine airtanker, a reconnaissance plane and a helicopter with a water bucket to dump water on the flames.