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Lehigh Township adopts burn ban as smoldering fire at 375 Cherryville Road continues; board okays up to $2,500 for mitigation supplies
Summary
After a deep-seated, smoldering fire on private property at 375 Cherryville Road that has resisted suppression, the Lehigh Township Board of Supervisors on March 25 adopted a burn ban and authorized up to $2,500 for Fire Company supplies to help contain the blaze.
Lehigh Township adopted Resolution 2025-3 on March 25 to continue a burn ban the manager first enacted March 23 as crews struggled to contain a smoldering fire at 375 Cherryville Road.
The Fire Company told the board the fire has been difficult to extinguish because it is deep in compacted ground; “They have already dumped 500,000 gallons of water onto the fire, but it is so deep into the ground,” Fire Company representative Rick Hildebrand said. He described steep, unstable slopes and stacked debris that prevent heavy equipment from reaching the seat of the fire.
Township Manager Alice Rehrig said she had enacted the burn ban after consulting with local officers, and the board voted unanimously to adopt the formal resolution so the restriction would remain in place. The board also discussed ongoing coordination with the county and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); officials said DEP advised exhausting local and county resources before escalating to PEMA.
Solicitor David Backenstoe advised the board on legal limits to Township crews performing work on private property and explained options for emergency spending and indemnification. Backenstoe said the Township can fund the Fire Company’s response but generally may not itself perform work on private property without legal authority or an indemnification agreement.
To support on-site mitigation, the board unanimously authorized up to $2,500 for supplies such as hoses and sprinklers; the Fire Company estimated the initial materials would cost about $800. Supervisor Janet Sheats said the items were needed to help contain the site and relieve exhausted volunteer personnel. The board instructed staff and the solicitor to continue coordination with county and state agencies and to document costs and actions.
A criminal investigation into the origin of the fire was reported to be active; local police are handling that inquiry. Fire officials said the site may continue to smolder for weeks and that options such as sprinkler systems, limited equipment access, or helicopter water drops would be considered if conditions worsen.
The board’s action leaves open follow-up steps: the Fire Company will return expense documentation for reimbursement; Township staff will continue interagency coordination; and the burn ban will remain in effect under Resolution 2025-3 until conditions change.
