BLAND COUNTY, Va. – A brush fire that broke out in Bland County Thursday afternoon is now 90% contained after burning 200 acres of the East River Mountain area.
Sergeant A. T. Stuart of the Bland County Sheriff’s Department says the fire poses no threat at this time.
According to Bland County Emergency Services, residents on East River Mountain road who had to evacuate last night have now been allowed to return to their homes. Residents were offered shelter at Bland Elementary during evacuation orders.
The Bland County Sheriff’s Department says East River Mountain Rd. is now reopened to thru traffic. The fire had forced its closure yesterday afternoon.
Officials with the Virginia Department of Forestry says they believe around 100 firefighters and other personnel have been involved in battling the fire.
“We’ll have staff here overnight. We’ll bring in fresh crews in the morning,” said Brad Carico, Western Regional Forester for the Virginia Department of Forestry Thursday. “We will continue, shoring up our containment lines and making sure the fire stays put. Hopefully by tomorrow afternoon we’ll be able to reach a hundred percent containment.”
The cause of blaze is still under investigation.
Stay with WVVA as this is a developing story and we will share more information as we learn it.
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