Amherst Wildfire Update : 11,000 Acres Now Consumed – 45% Contained – (11.25.16 – 10:00 PM)

Late Friday night updates now put the affected area at 11,000 acres. Much of the increase was due to controlled burns performed by the USFS to help manage the fire. 

Additional details midmorning Saturday. 

#AMHERST–#Wildfire has now consumed just over 8500acres. #mtpleasant #thrasherscreek pic.twitter.com/uDVrBTtmxa

— BlueRidgeLife (@BlueRidgeLife) November 25, 2016

Early AM Friday 11.25.16
Some better news the day after Thanksgiving. Though the wildfires in Amherst County have grown to take in around 7200 acres, the blaze is now 30% contained. Fire crews worked throughout the day and evening on Thanksgiving.

Below, the verbatim Friday morning update from the US Forest Service:

Don Pyrah, Fire Information Officer
Containment: 30%
Cause: Unkown
Location: Mount Pleasant Scenic Area, Thrasher’s Creek Community
Protection: Amherst County
Start Date: Saturday November 19th, 2016 approx. 06:15 PM
Ownership: USDA Forest Service, George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, Glenwood and Pedlar Ranger Districts
Type of Incident: Wildfire
Size: 7200 Acres
Engines: 13
Hand Crews: 2 Type 2, 16 Type 2IA and IA Modules
Bulldozers: 3
Helicopters: 3
Overhead Personnel: 53
Total Personnel: 252
Public Meeting Tonight 11/25/16 – Pedlar Fire Hall 7:00 p.m.

We want to thank the tremendous outpouring of support from the local residents affected by the fire. Their generosity towards our firefighters was nothing less than humbling. Please consider directing future donations to your local food pantry or the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. Our needs have been more than met due to your generosity. We thank you!

Yesterday, resources on the south side continued providing structure protection in the Thrasher Creek drainage, kept fire north of the dozer lines and continued with mop-up operations. Resources on the east side continued to secure control lines towards the Indian Creek drainage, and continued north. Structure protection in Scotts Branch drainage and Indian Creek also continued. Resources on the north side and northwest sides of the fire began constructing control line and looked for opportunities to control the fire off Forest Service Road 520 and County Road 750 from the west to Hog Camp Gap. On the west side of the fire resources began securing control lines from the west toward County Road 635 providing structure protection along that route. Night operations continued with resources assigned to patrolling the fire edge around structures and extinguishing hot spots. There is an Initial Attack group available for new starts in the George Washington, Jefferson National Forest.
Today, resources on the south and east and north sides of the fire will continue to strengthen control lines, mop-up, and patrol. Resources on the north and west sides of the fire will be providing structure protection for homes along State Route 634 (Coffeytown Road) and State Route 635. Resources will be continuing firing operations to secure control lines in those areas. Night operations will continue this evening monitoring existing established control lines.

Firing operations are conducted to remove unburned vegetation within the fires perimeter that could later ignite and spread. Conducting this type of operations when conditions are appropriate and safe lowers the fires potential to burn with great intensity.