The wildfire in Bedford County completely contained

Bedford County, Virginia – The blaze on Bedford County’s Blue Ridge Parkway has been successfully suppressed by firefighters.

It was estimated that 12.6 acres had been burned by the fire. As a result of crew work in the burn region, containment is almost entirely achieved. The trails are closed until tomorrow, April 1, 2024, in order to make the necessary repairs, and fire crews will stay on the spot to monitor the fire.
On Saturday evening, March 30, firefighters were dispatched to respond to a wildfire that was reported to be close to the Peaks of Otter region along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

“We had a very serious fire on the mountain with hot winds at the time,” said Chief Todd Stone of Bedford Fire Department. “When I got there, the wind was moving the fire as fast as you can run.”

The first person to arrive on the mountain was Chief Stone. He began requesting additional personnel from throughout the organization to assist in putting out the fire.

“At the height of the fire, we had 91 firefighters on the line working,” recalled Chief Stone. “It took us five hours just to get a line around the fire.”

According to firefighters, they will keep battling the fire on Sunday.

The National Park Service reports that no buildings or properties are in danger, but as a precaution, the following trails have been temporarily blocked in the area:

• Elk Run trail
• Harkening Hill trail
• Johnson Farm Loop Road trail

The Abbott Lake Trail, Flat Top Trail, and Sharp Top Trail are still accessible. For the 2024 season, the area’s other amenities, such as the lodge, campground, and visitor center, have not yet opened.

The park service reports that an initial investigation has determined that a downed power line is the cause of the fire. About thirty people, including resources from the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, and Bedford Fire Department, have been deployed to handle the incident.