JIM THORPE, Pa. — The annual Jim Thorpe Area Running Festival will proceed as planned this weekend, April 26th and 27th, despite ongoing wildfire concerns in the surrounding mountains, organizers announced Tuesday.
The wildfire, which began late last week in Penn Forest Township, has consumed approximately 350 acres of woodland in Carbon County, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
The affected area lies approximately 3-5 miles from portions of the festival’s race routes.
Race courses for the weekend festival include a Saturday half-marathon that runs alongside and crosses the Lehigh River, and Sunday events that utilize the Reading and Northern Railway through Lehigh Gorge State Park — areas in close proximity to the wildfire zone.
Festival Director Michael Ragozzino confirmed in a daily update for all participants that the events will continue as scheduled following favorable shifts in wind patterns and a successful controlled burn operation that has helped contain the blaze.
“We are working with all the authorities involved to ensure a safe and enjoyable festival,” Ragozzino said.
The primary concern for event organizers is air quality, particularly along the Lehigh Gorge corridor where both the half-marathon and Sunday’s races pass through.
Current measurements show an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 33 in Jim Thorpe — lower than Philadelphia’s reading of 60 and well below the Road Runners Club of America’s recommended threshold of 150 for rescheduling events.
As of Thursday, local fire crews from Jim Thorpe, Penn Forest, and surrounding municipalities have been working alongside state forestry officials to establish fire breaks and protect residential areas near the wildfire zone.
No evacuations have been ordered, though residents in the Bear Creek Lakes community were advised to prepare for possible evacuation earlier in the week.
Weather forecasts call for rain on Friday and continued winds that should direct smoke away from the festival area, further improving conditions for runners.
As a precautionary measure, organizers have developed a contingency plan with county, state, borough and park officials that would relocate the start and finish lines for all races to White Haven, approximately 15 miles northeast of Jim Thorpe.
The alternate marathon course is being certified for Boston Marathon qualification purposes.
“We do not plan to have to use this contingency,” Ragozzino emphasized. “We plan for the festival to go on as scheduled.”
A final decision on the venue will be made by Thursday evening, according to festival organizers.
The Jim Thorpe Area Running Festival typically draws thousands of participants and spectators to the historic Carbon County borough, providing a significant economic boost to local businesses.
Ragozzino and The RUNegades, the organization behind this annual event, have established a dedicated online resource providing daily wildfire updates within the race information portal.
Participants and spectators can access the latest developments at https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/JimThorpe/TheJimThorpeAreaRunningFestival
