Manatawny Creek Fire Hit by Tree Fatality 1926

James Dreibelbies, a volunteer assisting the suppression of a forest fire near Pottstown, Pennsylvania, was struck by a tree and killed. A large group of farmers, including the deceased, came to assist the Boyertown Fire Company in stopping the fire's spread. The fire was contained at 2200 on May 9. To secure the line around the 200-acre fire, Dreibelbies and others were assigned to cut burned trees on the fire perimeter. During this operation, the top of a large tree broke out, ricocheted off the bole of another tree, and struck Dreibelbies, fracturing his skull. He died in the Pottstown hospital at 0100 on May 10.