Route 895 is closed in the Bowmanstown area as dozens of fire trucks have taken up position along the road, protecting homes from a raging forest fire.

The fire has been burned since shortly after 2:30 p.m. Saturday in East Penn Township and over the Blue Mountain into Lehigh counties. So far 300 acres have burned.

Late Sunday afternoon the fire jumped Gun Club Road and threatened homes behind Route 895.

Countless fire companies from around the region, as well as the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, are on site.

Terry McCullion's farm is about 100 yards from the flames.

"It was closer yesterday," McCullion said late Sunday. "It was really scary to watch flames shoot across Club Road. The flames were so big they just jumped and were burning behind the homes."

McCullion watched as planes and helicopters dropped water and retardant onto the fire.

"(DCNR pilots) are so accurate. The planes and helicopters are good at what they do."

McCullion has a five-acre lot across the creek from his farm. "That's totally gone," he said.

Teenagers riding all-terrain vehicles spotted the fire off West Sunset Road in East Penn Township, at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday. The flames spread fast, reaching heights of almost 40 feet at a few minutes after 3 p.m.

The American Red Cross shelter set up a shelter Saturday night in Slatedale but closed it around 8 am after serving six residents overnight.

Shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday residents in the Slatington area reported ash falling like "snow."

The Beltz family, who lives near the turnpike on Mountain Road, got a call shortly after 9 p.m. inviting them to go to the shelter.

Firefighers were stationed less than a mile up the road and the air was thick like fog, but the family said the fire never came close enough to prompt leaving their homes.

The road was later closed near Lehigh Furnace.