Heavy smoke and a spectacular ring of orange flames on the edge of Neversink Mountain, and visible from Reading’s most famous landmark, the Pagoda, prompted the evacuation of residents from the hills and surrounding areas on Saturday.

No serious injuries or deaths were reported in what is one of a series of wildfires in Pennsylvania and New Jersey as an unprecedented drought continues.

The cause of the fire, which started on Friday night, is under investigation, but 99% of wildfires are started by humans.

The fire was declared under control Saturday morning, according to the NBC affiliate. WGALand residents were allowed to return to their homes. WGAL reported that one firefighter suffered a minor injury.

Evacuated residents had been moved to Amanda E. Stout Elementary School, at 321 S. 10th Street, Reading Mayor Eddie Morán said.

“I am deeply grateful to our fire department, emergency services and the Reading School District for their quick willingness to provide safe shelter to affected residents and to our community, who have stepped up to support each other in this time of need,” Morán said. in a statement.

dozens of Packages of water bottles have been donated. for firefighters. Donations are accepted at Reading Hose Station, 614 Franklin St.

The Neversink Mountain Fire is one of multiple wildfires that have burned in southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In the Garden State, at least three fires They exploded last week.

Meanwhile, the Burn ban in Pennsylvania remains in effect in 16 counties, including Berks County, which is under a state drought warning.

Burning trash, leaves, grass, twigs, trash, paper, land clearing-related plant matter, debris, or any type of combustible material outdoors is prohibited until at least the first week of December, depending on the county.

The National Weather Service warned that conditions remain ripe for fires, with the air completely dry and winds strong enough to “support the spread of any fires that ignite, which could quickly become difficult to control.”

Counties throughout the Philadelphia region and throughout New Jersey are under a drought watch.

Reading is actually one of the wettest places in the area: 0.03 inches of rain has fallen there.

Philadelphia, on the other hand, has had no measurable rain in six full weeks.

Staff writer Anthony R. Wood contributed to this article..