March 30--Exploding spray paint cans in a barrel near a heavy thicket of woods appear to be the cause of a major brush fire in Carroll County on Friday afternoon.
Sometime shortly after noon, local fire crews were called to the scene of a brush fire that originated on Walk Lane, just off of Freemont Road, that had spread across several acres along the ridge and near several homes.
Firefighters left the scene at around 3:30 p.m. Friday with the blaze contained and flames put out. Virginia Department of Forestry crews were still present assessing damages.
Hillsville Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Mike Musser said the landscape caused firefighters problems in containing the fire.
"We have a lot of fire and so much undergrowth, we can't put a line in. We are waiting for a dozer," Musser said.
Hillsville Volunteer Fire Department and Carroll County Fire and Rescue were on the scene and were calling in fire departments from Willis, Cana and Laurel Fork to assist. The Virginia Department of Forestry provided dozers.
Firefighters on the scene said several nearby houses would have been in danger if crews hadn't arrived when they did.
A local witness on the scene said the fire originated from a barrel full of spray paint cans that exploded next to the ridgeline.
Copyright 2012 - The Carroll News, Hillsville, Va.
