2009.01.02
Poor Mountain fire is almost out, authorities say
Here is the morning news from Jennifer Conley Sexton of Roanoke County Fire-EMS:Poor Mountain Brush Fire is Almost Out
January 2, 2009, 11:00 a.m. (Roanoke County) - The Poor Mountain Brush Fire is under control and Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Department has turned operations over to the Virginia Department of Forestry.
* Fire Officials now say the fire is 100% contained and under control.
* Roanoke County Fire and Rescue has turned full operations of the fire over to the Virginia Department of Forestry who will have 14 personnel on scene today to continue with mop up activities.
* VDOF may continue with some minimal back burning operations today, but expect all fire operations to be completed by nightfall.
* The VDOF may have a crew on hand throughout the night for monitoring purposes only.
* Fire Officials 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.
RCFRD will not be posting any further news releases, but for further information, the media may contact Denny McCarthy, from the Virginia Department of Forestry at 580-6801 for updates.
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Earlier posts about the fire:
* Update from Thursday night
* Update from Thursday morning
* Slideshow of photos from Poor Mountain fire from Chris Hale
* Update on Poor Mountain brush fire on Wednesday night
