6:19 p.m.
US Forest Service crews struggled to contain the 217 acre slow-burning wildfire just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Bedford and Rockbridge counties.
Though most of the flames have died down, USFS Incident Commander Zeph Cunningham says it didn't start out that way.
"Evidently one of the bush hogs hit a rock and sparked a fire. It was on a steep slope and fresh where the leaves had just fallen down from the trees and the fire ran up the slope pretty quick,” said Cunningham.
The thick smoke and steep terrain made fighting the fire tough, but Cunningham says the most difficult part is they have to do the work by hand. The area is part of the Thunder Ridge Wilderness, which is federally protected.
"It adds to the man power and the time it takes to do it, but it is the right thing to do to preserve the wilderness to protect that value,” said Cunningham.
They're not allowed to use modern machinery like bull dozers or bobcats to create the lines. So crews are having use rakes, and leaf blowers as their only mechanical advantage.
Cunningham says fortunately the weather is cooperating. They've had some light showers up here on the mountain and the high humidity is slowing the fire from spreading.
Firefighters have to be extra careful to make sure smoldering areas don't restart the blaze.
As of Tuesday evening, crews only have the fire 30% contained, and are hoping the rain in the forecast will make their jobs easier.
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12:54 p.m.
By WSLS News Staff, news@wsls.com
The US Forest Service says a fire has burned about 100 acres on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The fire is near the Bedford County and Rockbridge County border, near mile post 73. The fire is on the west side of the Parkway, about six miles west of Big Island.
The Forest Service says the fire is not contained, and about 50 firefighters, including a hotshot crew, are working to build a containment line.
Investigators tell WSLS the fire was called in on Monday, November 14th, and was caused by a spark from mowing equipment.
The fire has caused the closing of these roads:
Blue Ridge Parkway between mile posts 66 and 85
Petites Road (FS Road #35) between Natural Bridge Station and the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Forest Service says no homes are in danger, and smoke may be seen from the area for several days.
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