While the cause of the 17-acre brush fire in Solebury Township last week remained under investigation as of Wednesday, the fire was not believed to be sparked by the New Hope Railroad, police said.
“Officials are confident that the fire was not sparked by the New Hope Railroad,” police said.
The information came after speculation mounted that sparks from a train might have ignited the flames in the wooded area bordered by Lower Mountain Road, Aquetong Road, and Stoney Hill Road last Friday.
According to officials, the Bucks County 9-1-1 center received a report of a small brush fire near the railroad tracks on Lower Mountain Road at about 1:15 p.m. on Friday. The call was made by a train engineer from the New Hope Railroad.
Firefighters from across Bucks, Hunterdon, and Mercer counties responded to the scene.
The fire was fueled by dry conditions and a strong breeze as crews worked to control the flames.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry is investigating the cause of the fire in cooperation with the Solebury Township Fire Marshal.
Utility vehicles, specialized brush trucks, bulldozers, and large tanker trucks were deployed to the scene last week.
To battle the flames in hard-to-reach wooded areas, a tanker car from the New Hope Railroad was repurposed to transport water directly to the front lines.
“Members of the New Hope Railroad worked diligently to extinguish the fire until emergency personnel arrived, continuing to assist throughout the incident, providing a water tanker and other materials,” police said.
The fire burned for more than 24 hours before being extinguished late Saturday afternoon.
Fire officials have reiterated that a burn ban is in effect in Bucks County through November 25. Residents are urged to refrain from all forms of open burning, which includes the burning of garbage, leaves, grass, and other debris.
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