BOTETOURT CO., Va. – Nov. 7, UPDATE:
The Virginia Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service said they are on scene responding to wildfires that have been reported in Craig and Botetourt counties.
Recommended Videos
A fire around Lignite has been fully contained and is taking up around 130 acres. The Bald Mountain Fire, which has been ongoing, has now burned around 400 acres within the U.S. Forest Service - George Washington and Jefferson National Forest.
The VDOF said over 80 firefighters, along with multiple aircraft and dozers, are working to contain the blaze. The following roads are temporarily closed due to public safety:
- Forest Service Road 180
- Lignite Mine Road from Route 615 to Route 617 in Botetourt County
- Forest Service Road 179
- Bald Mountain Road, and;
- Forest Service Road 181 in Craig County
The VDOF has requested that people avoid the area to allow responders to work. They have also asked people not to fly any drones nearby.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Governor Youngkin, in a social media post on Thursday, announced that the Virginia Department of Forestry is assisting the U.S Forest Service in responding to a 1,700-acre wildfire on federal land at Bald Mountain in Botetourt County.
Youngkin said the following in a statement:
The Virginia Department of Forestry is assisting the U.S. Forest Service in responding to a 1,700-acre wildfire on federal land at Bald Mountain in Botetourt County. Helicopters and two “Super Scooper” aircraft are supporting containment efforts. The Virginia Department of Forestry has crews, a dozer, and a Unified Command representative on scene.
Thank you to our brave firefighters working tirelessly to keep Virginians safe.
Governor Youngkin