Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant Scenic Area / Thrasher’s Creek Community
Amherst County, Virginia
The progress continues against a wildfire in Amherst County that’s been burning for a week now. In all over 11,000 acres has been torched. Some of that purposely set by firefighters to contain the fire and bring it under control.
Below is the verbatim Sunday morning update from the USFS:
Don Pyrah, Fire Information Officer
Containment: 65%
Location: Mount Pleasant Scenic Area, Thrasher’s Creek Community
Start Date: Saturday November 19th, 2016 approx. 06:15 PM
Type of Incident: Wildfire
Size: 11,200 Acres
Cause: Unknown
Protection: Amherst County
Ownership: USDA Forest Service, George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, Glenwood and Pedlar Ranger Districts
Resources: Engines 19, Hand Crews 2 Type 2, 17 Type 2IA and IA Modules, Bulldozers 2, Helicopters 3,Overhead Personnel 60, Total Personnel 273MOP UP OPERATIONS CONTINUE
Community Meeting is scheduled at the Pedlar Fire Department at 7 pm this evening
Firefighters strengthened and held containment lines during yesterday’s wind event. Resources on the south side of the fire continued providing structure protection in the Thrasher Creek drainage, and continued mop-up operations. Resources on the east side continued to secure control lines towards the Indian Creek drainage while providing structure protection in Scotts Branch drainage and Indian Creek. Resources on the north side continued to strengthen and hold control lines in that area. On the west and southwest sides, resources continued to secure control lines and continue mop-up. Those resources also provided structure protection along State Routes 634 and 635.
Today all fire resources will continue providing structure protection, patrolling containment lines and mop-up. There is an Initial Attack group available for new starts in the George Washington-Jefferson National Forest.
Road Closures:
· North Fork Road (SR 635) closed at Panther Mountain (FR #1286)
· Thrasher’s Creek Road (SR 617) is closed at Molly’s Mountain due to firefighting activities. Local traffic will be permitted
· The Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area is temporarily closed due to fire activities. All roads and trails within the Scenic Area are temporarily closed including
· Wiggins Spring Road/Hog Camp Gap Road (FR #48) is closed from the junction at State Route 634 (Coffeytown Road) through to Salt Log Gap
· Coon Bridge Road (FR #1167)
· Cow Camp Road (FR #520)
· Fletcher Mountain Road (FR #507)
Trail Closures:
· Appalachian National Scenic Trail (FT #1) from Long Mountain Wayside to Salt Log Gap
· Old Hotel Trail (FT #515)
· Henry Lanum Trail (FT #702)
· Mt. Pleasant Trail (FT #704)
Our firefighters an forestry workers have done a excellent job keepn homes an people safe.God bless each an every one involved.