Two active wildfires—Thompson Hollow Fire and Hammonds Rocks Fire—are currently burning in Michaux State Forest in Cumberland County. For your safety and to aid firefighting efforts, please avoid the affected areas and follow local guidance on evacuations.
Latest update: April 27, 2025 at 1:40pm
Thompson Hollow Fire remains at 2,248 acres with 33% containment.
Hammonds Rocks Fire remains at 497 acres with 69% containment.
No personal property damage or physical injuries have been reported.
Evacuations: All residents who have been evacuated are able to return to their homes. Residents have been provided specific instructions on how to return safely.
Road Closures: The Shippensburg/Baltimore Road between Witmer Road and Ridge Road is closed to all general traffic. Kings Gap Environmental Education Center and Kings Gap Road are closed.
The Thompson Hollow Fire started around 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23 and the Hammonds Rocks Fire began about 2:00 pm on Thursday, April 24. The cause of these fires is currently under investigation.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Bureau of Forestry is responsible for protecting the Commonwealth’s 17 million acres of public and private wildlands from damage by wildfire.
When a wildfire breaks out, DCNR is the lead in coordinating efforts with other state agencies, local fire departments, and federal agencies like the U.S. Forest Service. The department may send firefighters, specialized equipment, and other resources to support the response. DCNR staff help ensure that the right resources are in place to fight the fire and prevent it from spreading further.
There are systems, strategies, and terms that are used when fighting wildfires.
An Incident Management Team is a group of trained professionals who work together to manage and control a wildfire. They organize and coordinate all efforts to fight the fire, ensure safety, and protect people, property, and the environment. They make key decisions and lead firefighting teams. The Incident Commander is the person in charge of the whole wildfire response and the leader of the entire team.
The leader uses a system to organize all the teams and resources during a wildfire or emergency. It helps make sure everyone knows their role and that things run smoothly.
Control means that firefighters have stopped the fire from spreading further. They have managed to surround and contain the fire, and they’re working to prevent the fire from getting any larger.
A fire line is a boundary that firefighters create by clearing away trees, brush, and other flammable materials. It helps stop the fire from spreading because there’s nothing left for the fire to burn in that area.
Containment means that the firefighters have surrounded the wildfire and stopped it from moving beyond a certain point. The fire is not completely out, but it's controlled and can’t spread any further.
A hot spot is a small area in the 'black' or burned area where the fire is still burning strongly, even after it seems like the fire is under control. These spots can reignite the fire, so firefighters need to find and put them out quickly.
Mop-up is the final stage of firefighting. It involves making sure that the fire closest to the perimeter is completely out by putting out any remaining flames or hot spots. It’s like cleaning up after the fire is mostly controlled.
Backburning is a technique used by firefighters to stop a wildfire. They start a controlled fire in front of the main fire, burning all the fuel before the wildfire can reach it. This helps stop the wildfire from spreading.
Air attack refers to using aircraft like helicopters or airplanes to help suppress the fire. They might drop water or fire retardant from above to help the ground crews understand where the fire is spreading. Air resources are most effective on initial attack.
A fire weather forecast is a special weather report that tells firefighters about conditions that can affect the fire. This includes temperature, humidity, wind speed, and other weather factors that can make a fire spread faster or slower.
Evacuation means that people living in or near the fire zone are asked to leave the area to stay safe. This is done when the fire is threatening homes, businesses, or communities. Evacuation orders are given by local authorities.
Page last updated: April 27, 2025 at 6:45pm
