Priscilla Sonne captured the flames shortly after a propane tank leaking burst into flames causing a chain reaction of other fires at The Festy in Nelson County this past Sunday afternoon – October 9, 2016
Arrington
Nelson County, Virginia
The investigation into what happened Sunday afternoon at The Festy where a large fire broke out after a propane tank either exploded or released fuel that cause a chain reaction fire to other nearby vendors and vehicles.
The coverage below.
Via Festy Facebook event page just after 3PM indicating they will continue with announcements forthcoming.As of 2:45 PM via The Festy Facebook page.
2:36 PM Update and summary as we know.
According to eyewitness reports a funnel cake truck’s propane tank exploded causing a chain reaction fire to other vendor trucks nearby. Wintergreen Fire & Rescue Chief Curtis Sheets has confirmed as of this post that only one person has been transported by ambulance.
Witnesses at the scene that are emailing and texting BRL say the situation and fire are under control.
2:18 PM : WFD Chief Sheets: “One person confirmed injured and transported.”
2:10 PM : A witness at the scene emailed us and said :
“Funnel cake truck propane tank exploded and is causing a chain reaction catching row of food trucks on fire.”
2:01 PM Helicopters canceled – transports by ground
Original post : 1:55 PM EDT Wintergreen Fire & Rescue Chief Curtis Sheets has confirmed a propane explosion at The Festy grounds in Nelson County. Three ambulances have been requested and cars are reportedly on fire.
As of Friday evening October 7th, Matthew continues to move northward along the east coast of Florida toward the Carolinas. It appears he will hook right somewhere in that vicinity with no direct impacts to the Mid-Atlantic. South Floridians dodged a major hurricane. There’s still a threat to North Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. As Hurricane Matthew heads northward beyond the Florida coastline, the impact on the inland Mid-Atlantic region by the end of the week into the Columbus Day weekend, as of now, looks very minimal with no effects, but we will have an increased chance of showers into the first half of the weekend as moisture gets pulled into the area.
Immediately below is a Friday evening discussion by CBS-19 Meteorologist David Reese discussing minimal impacts here in the Blue Ridge.
This is the last update we will do on Matthew here on our page unless it again becomes a direct threat to the Blue Ridge area of Virginia.
Graphic Courtesy of CBS-19 The Weather Authority : A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for most of the area through Friday morning. The above image shows the potential estimated rainfall.
FLOOD WATCH – CANCELLED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
333 AM EDT FRI SEP 30 2016
EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY-CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY-AUGUSTA-
ROCKINGHAM-SHENANDOAH-NELSON-ALBEMARLE-WESTERN HIGHLAND-
EASTERN HIGHLAND-CENTRAL VIRGINIA BLUE RIDGE-HAMPSHIRE-HARDY-
WESTERN GRANT-EASTERN GRANT-WESTERN MINERAL-EASTERN MINERAL-
WESTERN PENDLETON-EASTERN PENDLETON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…FROSTBURG…CUMBERLAND…STAUNTON…
WAYNESBORO…STUARTS DRAFT…HARRISONBURG…STRASBURG…
WOODSTOCK…MOUNT JACKSON…NEW MARKET…LOVINGSTON…
CHARLOTTESVILLE…HIGHTOWN…MONTEREY…WINTERGREEN…ROMNEY…
MOOREFIELD…BAYARD…MOUNT STORM…PETERSBURG…ELK GARDEN…
ANTIOCH…KEYSER…NEW CREEK…RIDGEVILLE…RUSSELLDALE…
HEADSVILLE…FORT ASHBY…RIVERTON…BRANDYWINE…FRANKLIN…
OAK FLAT…RUDDLE…SUGAR GROVE
333 AM EDT FRI SEP 30 2016
…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED…
THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN MARYLAND…VIRGINIA
AND EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA HAS BEEN CANCELLED. WHILE RAIN WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY, THE THREAT OF REPEATED ROUNDS OF HEAVY
RAIN HAS ENDED. FLOODING IS NO LONGER ANTICIPATED.
FLOOD WATCH – CANCELLED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
359 AM EDT FRI SEP 30 2016
ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-AMHERST-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…CLIFTON FORGE…COVINGTON…
HOT SPRINGS…FINCASTLE…LEXINGTON…BUENA VISTA…AMHERST
359 AM EDT FRI SEP 30 2016
…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED…
THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND WEST
CENTRAL VIRGINIA HAS BEEN CANCELLED. OFF AND ON SHOWERS WILL
CONTINUE THIS MORNING BUT WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAIN IS NOT EXPECTED AT
THIS TIME. HOWEVER ADDED SHOWERS AND STORMS COULD REDEVELOP LATER
TODAY RESULTING IN AREAS OF ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL.
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1235 AM EDT THU SEP 29 2016
…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING…
THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR
* PORTIONS OF MARYLAND…THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA…VIRGINIA AND
WEST VIRGINIA…INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS…IN MARYLAND…
ANNE ARUNDEL…CALVERT…CARROLL…CENTRAL AND EASTERN
ALLEGANY…CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST HOWARD…CENTRAL AND
SOUTHEAST MONTGOMERY…CHARLES…EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY…
FREDERICK MD…NORTHERN BALTIMORE…NORTHWEST HARFORD…
NORTHWEST HOWARD…NORTHWEST MONTGOMERY…PRINCE GEORGES…
SOUTHEAST HARFORD…SOUTHERN BALTIMORE…ST. MARYS AND
WASHINGTON. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN VIRGINIA…
ALBEMARLE…ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA…AUGUSTA…
CENTRAL VIRGINIA BLUE RIDGE…CLARKE…CULPEPER…EASTERN
LOUDOUN…FAIRFAX…FREDERICK VA…GREENE…KING GEORGE…
MADISON…NELSON…NORTHERN FAUQUIER…NORTHERN VIRGINIA BLUE
RIDGE…ORANGE…PAGE…PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS
PARK…RAPPAHANNOCK…ROCKINGHAM…SHENANDOAH…SOUTHERN
FAUQUIER…SPOTSYLVANIA…STAFFORD…WARREN AND WESTERN
LOUDOUN. IN WEST VIRGINIA…BERKELEY…EASTERN GRANT…EASTERN
MINERAL…HAMPSHIRE…HARDY…JEFFERSON…MORGAN…WESTERN
GRANT AND WESTERN MINERAL.
* INTO FRIDAY MORNING
* A POWERFUL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE MIDWEST WILL BRING
PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN TO OUR AREA INTO FRIDAY MORNING.
* WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE EXPECTED.
LOCALIZED AMOUNTS UP TO A FOOT OF RAIN ARE POSSIBLE…
INCLUDING ALONG THE EASTERN SLOPES OF THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA
BLUE RIDGE AND CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN IN MARYLAND.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
THESE NEXT FEW DAYS WILL BE A DANGEROUS TIME…REQUIRING MORE
THAN THE USUAL AWARENESS…PLANNING AND PREPARATIONS.
IF YOU ARE NEAR STREAMS OR DRAINAGE DITCHES…KEEP AN EYE ON THEM
AND BE READY TO QUICKLY SEEK HIGHER GROUND. WATER MAY RISE
RAPIDLY.
CLEAR OUT STORM DRAINS.
THOSE PRONE TO BASEMENT FLOODING SHOULD PREPARE. COMMUNITIES
PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD PREPARE.
CONTINUE TO CHECK IN ON THE FORECAST FOR UPDATES.
WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED FOR AREAS WHERE FLOODING IS IMMINENT.
ENSURE YOU GET WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE THROUGH
YOUR MOBILE PHONE AND OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO.
BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION IF A WARNING IS ISSUED FOR WHERE YOU
ARE OR IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED.
ENSURE YOUR KIDS DONT PLAY NEAR FLOOD WATERS.
REMEMBER IF YOU COME ACROSS WATER CROSSING A ROAD…TURN AROUND
DONT DROWN!
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
336 AM EDT THU SEP 29 2016
…SHOWERS AND STORMS TO PRODUCE BANDS OF HEAVY RAIN TODAY…
.A STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW JUST WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS COMBINED
WITH A SOUTHEAST FETCH OF MOISTURE ALONG A COMPLEX FRONTAL SYSTEM
WILL KEEP THE THREAT OF HEAVIER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AROUND
THROUGH LATER TODAY.
VAZ035-044>047-058-059-291545-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.A.0011.000000T0000Z-160929T2200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
AMHERST-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-HALIFAX-
CHARLOTTE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…AMHERST…DANVILLE…LYNCHBURG…
APPOMATTOX…SOUTH BOSTON…KEYSVILLE
336 AM EDT THU SEP 29 2016
…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON…
THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR
* PORTIONS OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS…IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
AMHERST…APPOMATTOX…BUCKINGHAM AND CAMPBELL. IN SOUTH
CENTRAL VIRGINIA…CHARLOTTE…HALIFAX AND PITTSYLVANIA.
* THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
* PERIODS OF SLOW MOVING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED
THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. HEAVY RAIN IS LIKELY WITH UP TO 3 INCHES
OF RAIN BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON. LOCALIZED HEAVIER AMOUNTS ARE
POSSIBLE. THIS AMOUNT OF RAINFALL MAY CAUSE FLASH FLOODING OF
SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS. URBAN AREAS AND LOCATIONS WITH POOR
DRAINAGE ALSO HAVE A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING.
* STREAMS AND CREEKS MAY OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS LEADING TO FLOODED
AND IMPASSIBLE ROADS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
REMEMBER…TURN AROUND…DON`T DROWN!
YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.
This is a reminder from Central Virginia Electric Cooperative. American Electric Power, our transmission service provider in your area has requested a planned outage beginning late Saturday evening so that AEP crews can replace aging transmission poles serving the Piney River substation. This will improve service reliability for you and other CVEC members.
To limit the outage time for our members, CVEC crews will temporarily switch the load from the Piney River substation to the Colleen substation. You will experience a 1 1/2 hour outage, beginning at 10:00 pm on Saturday, September 24, while CVEC crews make the switch.
When the AEP work is complete, you will experience a second 1 1/2 hour outage beginning at 7:00 am on Sunday, September 25, so that CVEC crews can switch the power feed back to the Piney River substation. (Should AEP crews complete the work well ahead of schedule, we will begin the switching process earlier in the morning.)
CVEC is pleased with this upgrade that will improve service reliability and thank you for your support as a cooperative member.
Virginia State Police Trooper D.L. Vaughn is investigating a fatal crash in Buckingham County. The crash occurred Saturday (Sept. 17) on Sycamore Road, east of Warminster Road. The crash occurred at 2 a.m., but was not reported to law enforcement until 11:45 a.m. Saturday.
A 2002 Subaru Outback was traveling along Sycamore Road when it ran off the right side of the road and struck a tree.
The driver of the vehicle, John W. Clarke Jr., 24, of Crozet, Va., died at the scene. He was wearing a seat belt.
An adult male passenger is being treated at UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville for life-threatening injuries.
The crash remains under investigation.
Corinne N. Geller
Public Relations Director
Virginia State Police
Virginia State Police Trooper Z.J. Blevins is investigating a fatal crash in Augusta County. The crash occurred Saturday (Sept. 17, 2016), at 11:25 p.m., on Route 820, approximately one mile north of Route 254.
A 1995 Honda Civic was traveling north on Route 820 when it ran off the right side of the road, struck a fence and overturned.
Charges are pending against the 18-year-old male driver from Stuarts Draft, Va. He suffered serious injuries and was transported to Augusta Health Center for treatment.
The passenger, Tommy E. Hise, 53, of Waynesboro, Va.., was transported to Augusta Health Center, where he died early Sunday morning.
Both the driver and passenger were wearing seat belts. The crash remains under investigation.
Corinne N. Geller
Public Relations Director
Virginia State Police
September 18 celebration at Three Chimneys 2-5 pm. South Rockfish Valley Rural Historic District and 10th anniversary of Rockfish Valley Foundation Confluence presents a free concert in connection with the celebrations by the Rockfish Valley Foundation.
Photo By Melissa Ray : The Ray’s recently moved to Harrisonburg and picked up our magazine. Above their 1 year old daughter is falling right into life Back Home On the Farm in Harrisonburg.
Rockingham
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Often we get so busy that it’s easy to forget what an impact we make on those of you reading our magazine. From our early start as Nelson County Life back in 2005 to Blue Ridge Life nearly 12 years later.
One of the biggest compliments we can get are letters and emails like the one from Melissa Ray:
“Hi! We just moved to Harrisonburg and are absolutely in love with this area! Your magazine has really been a helpful source for our family. We are a military family and have been living on a military base in Hawaii for the past three years. This was a big move for us. The locals have made us feel so welcome. Thank you for all of the information that you provide in your magazine! I had to share this picture of our one year old daughter from this past Monday at “Back Home On the Farm in Harrisonburg. She had the time of her life!”
Melissa, you just made our day and welcome to the the area and to the BRL family!
Photo By Mae Collins Tyree : The crew of Basic Necessities in Nellysford is joined by friends in Provence after their arrival a day or so ago.
Provence, France
Scroll down for daily updates
Back in early 2016 we told you about an effort underway to send most of the staff at Basic Necessities in Nellysford to Provence. See our story below in the January 2016 edition.
Everyone pitched in to make it happen and this past week they took off for the trip. Basic Necessities founder, Kay Pfaltz, makes several trips to France each year. She’s along on this trip as well.
Basic Necessities founder and co-owner (center in white shirt and glasses -sitting) talks with some of the locals and guests on the trip to Provence.Not to worry, Kristin Hill (left) and Clara Wilson are two of the staff behind at Basic Necessities taking care of things while the other crew is in France.
The crew will be there for several more days before returning late next week.
We’ll be updating you more on their adventures in the coming days!
“ABInBev will be taking control of 90% interest in the company,” Steve Crandall, founder of Devils Backbone told us late Tuesday when he announced the deal is finally closing on Wednesday – September 7, 2016.
“The Department of Justice had to review the acquisition for any conflicts before it could be final. That took about 4 months,” Steve went on to say.
Until the merger, many long term construction projects and other expansions had been put on hold. With the closure Steve says it’s full steam ahead. “One of the many plans is building a 2.5 million dollar distillery. We’ve had those plans in the works for a long time. Now the construction can begin.”
Steve says initially in the coming months people won’t see much difference other than many construction projects underway. But much more is ahead around the one year mark from the closure of the deal.
“We’re excited for out company, our employees and the communities we serve. And certainly for our fans. Jason Oliver, our head brewer from day one, has some really neat innovations in the works.”
BRL will have much more on this in the coming days.
