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NOVEMBER 7-13, 2024
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Ongoing Blue Mountain blaze Brings community together
Looking by Back Ed Pany Dragon to War: Part 2 of 2
Photos by Gregory Morgan Photography By CATHERINE STROH On Saturday, Nov. 2, a brush fire started on Blue Mountain in Lehigh Township. Due to the spread of the fire, air support began on Sunday, Nov. 3, with helicopters arriving from Gettysburg. Additionally, Northampton County Emergency Management also set up a mobile command unit to assist with operations and planning. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has been assisting and more than 200 volunteer firefighters from neighboring counties have been on the scene assisting Lehigh Township Vol. Fire Co., along with state game commission and National Park Service representatives. A controlled burn began on Sunday night in order to contain the fire and protect the homes below the fire. Then on Monday morning, Type 3 incident management team arrived on the scene; however, the fire
continues to burn. According to officials, on Monday evening, Nov. 4, a total of 577 acres had burned and the fire containment was at 25%. All personnel on the mountain, along the Appalachian Trail, were able to hold the forward spread from crossing the ridge to the north and crews were successful in their attempt to halt the spread toward the east, above Timberline Road. Officials said there are still many days ahead of hard work securing the perimeter and extinguishing hotspots. Therefore, residents and recreationalists are asked to avoid the fire area as it is still receiving “diligent work” and poses a risk with hotspots and falling trees. At time of print, officials say the threat to residences off of Timberline Road has greatly decreased. However, people will continue to see glowing trees and pockets of interior activity. Smoke will also be present for the foreseeable future and personnel will continue to re-
main onsite working and monitoring the conditions. On Sunday, a command center was established at the Lehigh Township Municipal Building, located at 1069 Municipal Rd., Walnutport. A request for donations of water from the Lehigh Township Vol. Fire Co. turned into an outpouring of support from the community. Within hours, they had received above and beyond what they had originally asked for as a line of residents wishing to make donations was backed up by half of a mile at the command center Sunday morning. Some of the donations included food, water, lotion, wipes, Chapstick, medicine, hand sanitizer, hand warmers, beanies, headlamps, batteries, money and so much more! “The amount of support is overwhelming. The community coming together like this is like nothing we have ever seen. From the bottom of our hearts…thank you!” the Continued on page 8
August Serensits Jr. was an employee at the Lawrence/Dragon Cement Company in the first ward of Northampton. In 1943, he was drafted to serve in the United States Army and was assigned to the U.S. Army Armored 83rd Reconnaissance Battalion and trained to be a member of a tank crew. August Jr. did not have an automobile, so this was a new chapter in his life. The most common tank used in World War II was the Sherman tank. American industry rose to the challenge and soon 50,000 Sherman tanks rolled off the production lines. The tank crew of five worked in close quarters; they became a family. The crew consisted of a commander, loader, gunner, driver and assistant driver. The speed of the tank was 26 mph. It was armed with a 75mm gun and two machine guns. Mr. Serensits’ unit was sent to England as the Allies prepared for the D-Day invasion of Europe. DDay occurred on June 6, 1944. It was one of the largest invasions in history. His tank unit arrived a few days after the invasion. The Allies now had the difficult task of clearing the Germans from France and Europe. The Allies had to adjust to fighting in the French countryside. They moved through farmlands in
The Battle of Saint-Lô, July 1944; photo courtesy of “Veterans Historical Book” Service 1951
Normandy. Farms were small, irregular in size and were surrounded with thick hedge rows. For centuries, the hedges grew so thick you could not see through them. They were surrounded by mounds of ground and ditches. Behind these natural barriers were German soldiers and artillery. A key battle was fought at the town of Saint-Lô. Private Serensits’ Battalion fought at this crucial battle. Sharp tusks were welded on the front of tanks to penetrate the hedgerows. Fifteen hundred Continued on page 5
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