Fire companies from throughout Schuylkill and Carbon counties battled a fast-moving brush fire Monday in West Penn Township.

The fire appeared to have started along the south berm of the roadway at the intersection of Mantzville Road and SR443 at about 11 a.m. Fanned by high winds, it quickly raced up a steep, grassy field and into a heavily wooded area. The fire then traveled through the woods to a large field between SR443 and Spring Road.To gain access to the field in order to battle the racing flames, fire trucks had to maneuver up a narrow winding driveway and cross the lawn of a home. Tankers were used to supply brush trucks and Indian tanks with the water needed to battle the flames.The smoke of the blaze could be seen for miles. Firefighters were on scene for seven hours.