Carrollton Volunteer Fire Department crews who responded to calls across the state Wednesday should be back at the 100-acre site in Louisa County by Thursday evening, Chief Tim Nunez said.
Louisa, more than 130 miles northwest of Carrollton, declared a state of emergency March 20 in response to a series of wildfires fueled by high winds, high temperatures and low relative humidity.
On March 20, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning as far south as Isle of Wight and Surry counties, warning that dry and windy weather could cause fires to spread quickly.
As of 10:30 p.m. March 20, the 100-acre Piney Mountain Road fire to which Carrollton responded was 75% contained, according to a Louisa County press release. Another 200-acre fire on Taylor’s Gap Road was only 25% contained as of 10:30 p.m. March 20. at the same time, according to an Albemarle County news release.
“Carrollton crews worked throughout the night to control and maintain fire lines across the more than 100-acre Pine Mountain Fire, working with multiple crews from across the commonwealth to support Albemarle County Fire and Rescue Services,” Nunez said.
Nunez said this is the second time in 15 years that Carrollton has responded to the state’s request for mutual aid. In 2009, the Carrollton Tanker 10 was called to Severn, North Carolina, more than 50 miles southwest, to respond to a fire at a peanut warehouse.
Post time: Mar-26-2024