LOUISA COUNTY, Va. -- The large wildfire that spread across 200 acres in Louisa County burned very close to Claire Miller's home.
"It was shocking how close it got to the house," Miller said. "It’s amazing our house is not up in flames."
Miller said her animals and children were not home when the fire started near Old Mountain Road Wednesday afternoon.
"At some point, I realized there was enough smoke that my thinking was impaired," she said. "I had to go find a closet and sit at the bottom of the closet to think, 'okay what are my priorities what do I need to grab.'"
Louisa officials ordered those in harm's way to evacuate in what was previously determined to be a Red Flag Warning Day due to dry and windy weather in Virginia.
"The conditions were very ripe for a fire to get going," Mineral Fire Chief Lloyd Runnett said. "The simplest thing can start a fire that can really spread very, very quickly with these kinds of conditions like we’re having right now."
Firefighters were able to mark the flames under control by Thursday morning. Crews spent much of the day Thursday fortifying fire trenches and putting out hot spots.
"Really great effort yesterday, [fire crews] protected many homes. They were able to get the fire lines in place with limited resources because of the number of fires throughout the whole region yesterday," Runnett said.
Jim, who lives near Claire, had already left home for his safety at that point.
"What I’ve said is, yeah, we dealt with this real skillfully," he said with a laugh. "L-U-C-K-Y — skillfully.”
No injuries were reported in association with the fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
"I hope all of us are thinking about each other around the world at times like this," Miller said. "Increasingly, I think we’re needing to be a global community and help each other through disastrous times."
A burn ban in Virginia remains in effect through April.
"Virginia adopted its Burn Law in the 1940's, and it is in effect each year from February 15 through April 30," Lousia officials said in a news release Thursday.
Officials included the following tips during these fire conditions:
- Do not toss your cigarette or cigars on the ground or from a vehicle. It is dangerous and illegal.
- Adjust your trailer chains so they do not drag the pavement, creating sparks while driving.
- Do not burn anything in barrels during this time.
- Check lawnmowers and farm equipment for properly working spark arresters.
- Be cautious using lawnmowers to mulch leaves as hot bearings and exhaust can easily start a fire.
- Move anything that will burn far away from structures, items like firewood, dry and dead landscaping plants, compost piles, brush piles, etc.
- Notify your electric company when dead trees or overhanging limbs endanger electric wires.
Depend on CBS 6 News and WTVR.com for in-depth coverage of this important local story. Anyone with more information can email newstips@wtvr.com to send a tip.
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