Reading's anniversary fireworks cut short due to brush fire

Mar. 17—A Reading fireworks display set off from the Pagoda to celebrate the city's 275th anniversary sparked five brush fires before the aerial show was quickly halted Thursday night.

After firefighters on standby noticed the fires on Mount Penn they told the contractor setting off the fireworks to stop about 2 minutes into the show, Deputy Fire Chief Larry Moyer said Friday.

Dry conditions and low humidity had resulted in embers from the explosives igniting materials on the ground, he said.

Four of the fires were in Lower Alsace Township and the other — which was the biggest of them — was on city property below the Pagoda, he said.

It took about 30 minutes for firefighters to reach that one and put it out, but less than an acre burned there, he said.

The others were extinguished more quickly.

It was not clear who owned the Lower Alsace Township properties affected.

No one was hurt.

The city fire marshal's office was aware of the dry conditions but issued a permit for the display and permitted it to begin after a test run of the fireworks was set off without any problems, Moyer said.

The fire department is on standby for all permitted fireworks events in Reading in case of trouble, he said.

The fireworks were one of numerous celebrations taking place Thursday at schools, churches and community centers throughout the city in honor of its birthday.