Virginia News

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Firefighters hope to contain blaze near Kentucky line 12/7

UNDATED (AP) - State forestry officials say fire crews hope to
contain a blaze today that has burned 900 acres in the mountains
near the Virginia-Kentucky line.
Investigators believe the fire was deliberately set. About 100
firefighters have been battling the blaze since Sunday in Dickenson
County, north of Haysi (HAY'-see). Much of the charred land is in
the Jefferson National Forest and about 200 acres are privately
owned.
Spokesman Gregg O'Donnell with the Virginia Department of
Forestry says the terrain is steep and rocky and gusty winds are
making conditions difficult.
Parts of southwest Virginia are under a wind advisory today.
The 100 firefighters on the job include 25 from the forestry
agency, Job Corps workers, U-S Forest Service teams and volunteers
from local fire departments.

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Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch, www.timesdispatch.com

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GLASGOW, Va. (AP) - Two fires joined Tuesday to create a
1,000-acre forest fire, closing a portion of the Blue Ridge
Parkway, officials said.
The fire is located in a remote section of the George Washington
National Forest near Peavine Mountain primarily accessible by dirt
roads. Firefighters have had to navigate steep, rocky terrain to
fight it.
No homes are threatened and no injuries were reported. More than
120 firefighters and crews from the U.S. Forest Service, Park
Service, state forestry department and Cold Springs County
Correctional Facility battled the blaze on Tuesday.
The fire has grown from about 10 small fires that ultimately
developed into two, each encompassing hundreds of acres.
A report issued Tuesday by the National Interagency Coordination
Center said the fires should be contained by Friday. U.S. Forest
Service spokeswoman Donna Wilson said officials would continue to
monitor the burnt area for several weeks.
Wilson said the affected acreage is expected to increase.
"When it's totally in the black, it will be like 1,800 acres"
burned, Wilson said.
Wilson said investigators have determined the blaze was set by
one or more people, but they do not know if it was an accident or
arson.
The fire has closed all national forest service roads in the
Peavine Mountain area along with the section of the Blue Ridge
Parkway between Otter Creek Campground and U.S. 60.
The area is often used by hunters, said Gary Roakes, Amherst
County public safety director.



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Information from: The News & Advance,
http://www.newsadvance.com/