MOOSIC - A brush fire caused by post-game fireworks hitting dry bush near PNC Field in Moosic was contained to an acre of land Saturday evening, Moosic Fire Chief Chuck Molinaro said.
Greenwood Hose Company was on site during the fireworks and was later joined by firefighters from Moosic, Old Forge, Taylor and Avoca in containing the fire. There were neither injuries nor property damage as a result of the fire, Chief Molinaro said.
Lackawanna County 911 said there were about half a dozen brush fires in the county on Saturday.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Mike Pigott said brush fires are common at the start of spring because of the lingering "winter dryness, combined with the warmer spring temperatures."
He cited Scranton's relative humidity of 17 percent as an indicator of how dry it was Saturday. To put the number into perspective, he said Phoenix had a relative humidity of 12 percent.
RailRiders vice president of baseball operations Curt Camoni said no decision has been made yet on whether fireworks will continue.
"This is exactly why we partner with Greenwood Hose Company," he said. "We always have professionals on site in the event this could happen. The safety of our fans is our top priority, as is the neighbors on the hill as well."