National forest fire grows to 500 acres in Virginia
National forest fire grows to 500 acres inVirginia
12 December 2006
published by www.dailypress.com
USA — Two fires joined Tuesday to create a 500-acre forest fire, closing aportion of the Blue Ridge Parkway, officials said.
The fire is located in a remote section of the George Washington National Forestnear Peavine Mountain primarily accessible by dirt roads. Firefighters have hadto navigate steep, rocky terrain to fight it.
No homes are threatened and no injuries were reported.
The fire has grown from about 10 small fires that ultimately developed into two,each encompassing hundreds of acres.
The area is often used by hunters, said Gary Roakes, Amherst County publicsafety director.
The fire has closed all national forest service roads in the Peavine Mountainarea along with the section of the Blue Ridge Parkway between Otter CreekCampground and U.S. 60.
