FOREST, Va. – A brush fire in Forest damaged a garage and some barns on Tuesday, according to the Forest Fire Chief Monty Coleman.
Crews said the fire happened on Milky Way Lane, and it spanned around 40 acres.
It is believed that a tractor caught on fire and spread to brush nearby, lighting up a hundred hay bales. They made the perfect fuel for the fire, according to Coleman.
“They were dry,” Coleman said. “It looked like somebody was just pouring gasoline walking down in front of the fire that’s how fast the fire was moving down the hay bales.”
There are multiple structures in the area and some barns sustained damage. A garage was destroyed, but there was no damage to any homes.
High winds and low humidity are said to be contributing to the fire, which is contained.
Coleman said this is a good reminder for Bedford County residents to continue following the county’s burn ban.
“The conditions are just ripe for rapid fire growth,” Coleman said. “We have a cold front that’s moving in right now, we have low humidity, and we have gusty winds.”
Some crews are slated to leave later in the evening but forestry officials will likely continue to monitor the fire for a few days.