1,200 acres destroyed by ‘suspicious’ fire

Old country road

March 23, 1989 — A fire of a suspicious nature in the Lucas Hollow area near Stanley destroyed some 1,200 acres of forested land last weekend, according to Chief Forest Warden Steve Moyer of the Virginia Division of Forestry.

The fire, which broke out Friday night, was finally brought under control Saturday afternoon although the fire continued to smolder through Monday, Moyer said.

The Virginia Division of Forestry was called to the scene because of the many acres of wooded land and the volunteer fire companies assisted in protecting some 30 homes in the vicinity, according to Moyer.

“There were quite a few homes in danger, but we didn’t lose any,” Moyer said.

The fire apparently was set 100 to 150 yards from the road (Va. 619) in a draw in the bottom of two ridges. Moyer said, adding that this is not the first time a fire of a suspicious nature has occurred in this area.

“It burned in 1983, 1985 and 1989 with big acreage and in between those times there have been small fires,” Moyer said, adding that 600 acres burned in 1983 and 1,000 acres in 1985.

The fire is under investigation by the Virginia Division of Forestry. 

~ From the public archives of the Page News and Courier

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