Roanoke County Fire & Rescue now has about 17 firefighters working on the brush fire that is contained to approximately 13 acres at the top of Bent Mountain.
Additionally, the Virginia Department of Forestry has about 21 personnel on scene. The goal for the day has been to mop up the burning brush inside the containment line and make sure it does not flare up or burn outside of the bulldozed line. Firefighters have spent much of the day using chainsaws to remove dead trees that threaten the control lines. Crews are also using fire-fighting foam on the large timber pile to coat the fuel, resulting in suppression of the burning.
Crews hope to be finished with these efforts before the sun sets. At that time Roanoke County will turn over control of the area to the Virginia Department of Forestry who will likely continue to monitor the charred area for the next day or so.
A fire investigator from the Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s office has been on scene most of the day searching for what could have caused this fire, but no cause has yet been determined.

Submitted by Roanoke County