PDA

View Full Version : AT section in Roanoke Closed after Fire



SavageLlama
04-20-2005, 22:43
Part of Appalachian Trail closed after fire

Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - The Roanoke Times

A portion of the Appalachian Trail in Roanoke County was closed to hikers Tuesday because of a brush fire.

The fire encompassed about 4 acres on Catawba Mountain near Beckner Gap, 1 1/2 miles south of Virginia 311, Roanoke County Fi re and Rescue Capt. Tom Bier said. Firefighters received the call about 3:30 p.m. and had to hike for more than an hour to reach the fire, Bier said. A helicopter with a bucket was also brought in to drop water over the area. No hikers were allowed to enter the trail from the Catawba Mountain entrance off Virginia 311, Bier said. Some hikers who were already on the trail did leave it from that area after the fire had started. Bier estimated that a couple of hundred yards of the trail were affected by the fire.

The fire was under control by 6 p.m., Bier said. Crews stayed in the area to cut down dead trees and remove leaves that could fuel the fire if it restarted.

The cause of the fire had not been determined as of Tuesday night, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman JoBeth Brown said.

A hiker from Maryland alerted officials to the fire, Bier said. No hikers or firefighters were injured during the fire.

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke%5C22170.html