The Shadow
Area emergency crews have been scrambling the last 24 hours to battle brush fires, house fires and a fire at MeadWestvaco’s No. 8 paper machine.
The MeadWestvaco fire was reported at 8:13 a.m. today. It started in the house crane power strip and spread to the roof.
According to MeadWestvaco Communication Manager Becky Johnson, damage to the paper machine is being assessed at this time.
“The paper machine is operational, and we are in the process of starting the machine up,” Johnson said this morning.
She added that there were no serious injuries associated with the fire.
Twenty-three acres of land located on the upper third of Little Mountain on Mad Ann Ridge located approximately two miles east of Falling Spring in Alleghany County were burning this morning.
The fire was not contained, meaning fire lines were not surrounding the fire.
According to Liz Higgins with the U.S. Forest Service, there was no estimate of containment Friday morning.
The fire was reported Thursday at approximately 2:30 p.m. Its cause is undetermined at this time.
Approximately 21 firefighters were staffing the fire this morning. Other resources assigned to the fire include one helicopter and one bulldozer.
As of Friday morning, there were no restrictions or closures associated with the fire.
Higgins said plans for fighting the fire include constructing containment lines around the fire perimeter.
The fire is inaccessible to bulldozers, so hand fire lines will be built directly adjacent to the fire’s edge.
After fire lines are constructed, efforts will turn to “mopping up” or putting the fire out within 100 feet of the fire line.
Dead trees or “snags” that are a threat to firefighter safety or present a risk of igniting and spreading fire will be cut down.
Firefighters can drive within a half mile of the fire, which is characterized by extremely steep slopes and dead trees from previous gypsy moth infestations.
Additional firefighting resources have been ordered, according to Higgins.
“The safety of the public and firefighters will always remain our top priority,” Higgins said.
Firefighters may receive a little assistance from Mother Nature.
The weather is expected to be warm, dry and clear throughout the day Friday, but the chances of precipitation increase after sunset. The weekend will bring increasing clouds and better chances for precipitation.
Fire departments from Clifton Forge and Selma were called out at 1:30 Thursday afternoon for a house fire on the Selma-Low Moor Road.
A large, two-story house was on fire, and when firefighters arrived, smoke was coming from the eaves of the roof and attic.
The structure was heavily damaged by smoke and water. No estimate of the damage was given.
Traffic was blocked for several hours on the Selma-Low Moor Road while firefighters worked to save the house and extinguish the fire.
An air truck from Iron Gate also responded to the scene along with the Clifton Forge Rescue Squad. The Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office provided traffic control.
Covington firefighters were called to 2009 Mallow Road at 12:25 a.m. Friday for a house fire.
Upon arrival by the fire department, the front of the structure was fully involved by the fire.
Covington Fire Chief Kevin Pettitt said the house was a total loss with over $25,000 in damages. Two dogs were lost in the fire.
One of the residents of the home was injured and taken to LewisGale Hospital-Alleghany by a private vehicle for burns to the right hand.
The fire remains under investigation. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time.
A command unit with the Covington Fire Department was on the scene within four minutes, and the first truck was on the scene within 10 minutes.
Eighteen firefighters re-sponded to the scene along with members of the Covington Rescue Squad.
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Staff writers David Crosier, Josh Hagy, Larry O’Rourke and Buck Rumpf contributed to this story.
