The Shadow
Officials with the U.S. Forest Service are hoping that rain will help control forest fires in Alleghany, Bath and Botetourt counties.
All three fires were reported Tuesday. As of this morning, the fires had damages an estimated 263 acres of forestland.
The largest of the three fires, the “Fassifern Fire” in Bath County, had damaged approximately 210 acres, according to estimates released by the Forest Service’s Warm Springs Ranger District this morning.
The fire is located approximately 4 miles west-northwest of Warm Springs. Sharon Mohney, fire information officer for the Warm Springs and James River ranger districts, said steep terrain and warm, dry and windy weather conditions are hampering containment efforts.
Approximately 32 firefighting personnel and one dozer were on scene Wednesday night. The Forest Service is being assisted by the Virginia Department of Forestry, the Cold Springs Correctional Institution, the Flatowood Job Corps, the Hot Springs Fire Department and the Mountain Grove Volunteer Fire Department.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
In Botetourt County, the Roaring Run fire had damaged an estimated 150 acres as of this morning. The fire was ignited by lightning Tuesday, according to Barbara Walker, fire information officer for the Eastern Divide Ranger District in Blacksburg.
Walker said the fire was 80 percent contained this morning.
“The fire crew had a lot of successes Wednesday, despite the rugged conditions and the heat. The highest recorded temperature in the area of the fire was 95 degrees Wednesday,” she said this morning.
Forty firefighting personnel were on the scene this morning.
“If we get the expected rain this afternoon, we think the fire will be under control,” Walker said.
The fire is located about one-half mile from the Roaring Run Recreation Area. The recreation area and Hoope Hole Trail are closed the public as a safety precaution.
The Forest Service is being assisted at the scene by the Virginia Department of Fo-restry, the Augusta County Hot Shots and volunteers fire crews from throughout Botetourt County.
In Alleghany County, a fire on Fore Mountain had damaged about three acres, Mohney said.
The fire is located approximately 4.5 miles east-northeast of Covington. Trees killed by gypsy moths are posing a hazard to firefighters, Mohney said.
Eleven U.S. Forest Service personnel were on scene this morning as they continued to monitor the fire and conduct mop-up activities. The fire had not been declared contained this morning, however. The cause of the fire has not been determined.
The National Weather Service says that a strong cold front will move through the Highlands this afternoon and tonight, bringing showers and thunderstorms. There is a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and the liklihood increases to 80 percent tonight. Rainfall amounts are expected to total between one-quarter of an inch and one-half inch.
Blustery winds are expected to return Friday with partly sunny conditions.
