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Crews Battling Fayette County Forest Fire

WHARTON TONWSHIP (KDKA) -- Fire continued to spread in Fayette County Monday as crews worked to control it.

Donald Pechasko was the first to notice a problem near his Wharton Township home, along the Pennsylvania-West Virginia border.

"I just happened to look down that way there and noticed it was burning," he said.

Flames began to consume dried brush in the wooded area, the brush fire quickly turning into a forest fire.

The location of the blaze challenged firefighters.

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"It's a very rough, rugged area, lot of rocks, rural and steep conditions," Assistant Fire Chief Eric Baker said.

Ground and air assets were used to try and fight the fire.

"We've had a helicopter working all day since 7 o'clock this morning and they are bringing an airplane in now," Baker said.

Massive wind turbines in the area helped to fuel the flames.

"It's been non-stop all day, different directions, once you clear one area its back to another," Baker said.

Firefighters were working to stop the flames from reaching buildings and homes in its path.

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