Shenandoah Valley blanketed in smoke; DCNR says Lebanon prescribed fire the cause
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - A thick haze of smoke is seen throughout the Shenandoah Valley on March 22, 2023.
SHENANDOAH – It might seem like an extraordinarily hazy day Wednesday in our valley, but it’s not haze.
Smoke blanketed northern Schuylkill County from Gordon to Mahanoy City throughout the afternoon.
Fire Forester Jake Novitsky with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry was in the area Wednesday afternoon to determine the cause.
The Schuylkill County Communications Center reported they had received at least 10 calls regarding the smoke condition, and presumed it was related to a prescribed fire the Pennsylvania Game Commission is conducting in Lebanon County.
That prescribed fire is on state game lands 30 miles from Shenandoah borough, which was seeing a significant smoke condition.
Novitsky said he determined there was no active wildfire in the area causing the smoke, and said it was most likely from the Lebanon County prescribed fire.
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