2009.01.02
Brush fire on Poor Mountain contained
Here is a news release from Jennifer Conley Sexton of Roanoke County Fire and Rescue, as of 10 p.m. last night:
Poor Mountain Brush Fire is Under Control
January 1, 2009, 10:00 p.m. (Roanoke County) - Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Department has brought the brush fire under control on Poor Mountain.
* Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department was dispatched to a smoke report call yesterday afternoon in the Ridgelea Road area. Crews had to hike the mountain above Whitlows Auto Crushers, off of Ridgelea Road, to try and assess where the fire was spreading.
* Fire Officials now say the fire is 100% contained and under control.
* A crew will remain on scene to monitor the fire throughout the night.
* Tomorrow, crews will continue with mop up activities. That is, making sure there is no debris and fuel for the fire within 50 feet of the containment lines.
* Earlier this evening, crews were able to travel the perimeter of the charred areas and have now determined that approximately 45-50 acres have burned.
* No homes have been threatened.
* Fire investigators have determined that a pickup truck, driving on a private access road off of Ridglea Road, sparked the fire when leaves were caught up under the engine. The driver saw the leaves burning under his truck, backed up and then tried to extinguish the fire when a wind gust spread the fire up the mountain.
Another update will be provided tomorrow unless something significant happens before then.
# # #
For earlier posts about the fire:
* Update from Thursday morning
* Slideshow of photos from Poor Mountain fire from Chris Hale
