The Shadow
Two of three forest fires in the Alleghany Highlands have been contained.
The U.S. Forest Service reported this morning that fires in Alleghany and Botetourt counties were contained Thursday through the assistance of rain. A third fire in Bath County is not expected to be contained until Tuesday.
The Forest Service said all three fires were ignited by lightning.
Sharon Mohney, fire information officer for the Warm Springs Ranger District, said the Fassifern Fire, located about five miles west of Warm Springs in Bath County, had burned about 350 acres by Thursday night.
Mohney said the fire was 30 percent contained Thursday night with full containment not expected until Tuesday. Rainfall Thursday assisted the containment effort.
The fire was reported Tuesday around 1:30 p.m. This morning, 73 firefighters were at the scene of the blaze. A bulldozer and helicopter are being used in the containment effort. Fire lines are being constructed by hand and through utilization of the bulldozer.
Dead and downed trees caused by gypsy month mortality are providing the fire with fuel. Steep terrain at the fire scene is presenting firefighters with a medium level of difficulty.
Crews on hand include personnel from the Forest Service, the Virginia Department of Forestry, the Cold Springs Correctional Institute in Gr-eenville, and the Flatwoods Job Corps. The Hot Springs and Mountain Grove Fire Departments have also assisted in combating the fire.
Mohney said blustery winds are expected at the fire scene today in the wake of the Thursday cold front that brought rain. Temperatures, however, are expected to be more seasonal over the weekend. Humidity levels are also expected to be lower.
The Roaring Run Wildfire in Botetourt County was declared 100 percent contained by the Forest Service Thursday night.
The fire, which started Monday, damaged an estimated 165 acres.
Most firefighters were released from the fire site Thursday afternoon and about one-half of them were assigned to other areas experiencing fires.
Barabra Walker, information officer for the Eastern Divide Ranger District in Blacksburg, said one engine and five firefighters remained on scene in Botetourt County today to monitor the fire and mop up hotspots.
The scene of the fire was located approximately one-half mile from the Roaring Run Recreation Area. The recreation area and Hoop Hole Trail are now open to the public. Iron Ore Trail within the recreation area remained closed today.
The trail will reopen for the weekend, Walker said.
A fire on Fore Mountain in Alleghany County was also declared contained by the Forest Service Thursday night.
The fire, located about 4.5 miles east-northeast of Covington, damaged approximately three acres. It was first reported Tuesday.
Mohney said three Forest Service employees remained at the scene today to monitor the site. Thursday’s rain helped assure containment of the fire, she said.
Meanwhile, the Forest Service is also working to suppress two wildfires that have burned more than 600 acres in the Big Island area in Bedford County.
Forest Service spokesman Peter Irvine said one of the fires burned about 525 acres near Falling Rock, including about 200 acres in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.
As of Thursday evening, Vine said both fires were about 40 percent contained.
