[S-Roanoke-fire]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-14; 11:05]
[GRAPHIC=Brush Fire]
[SUPER=@Kimberly1]

It was a scary Sunday for residents of Roanoke's Hunting Hills subdivision.
A stubborn brush fire that got out of hand threatened an row of homes in the neighborhood.
Keith Humphry got reaction from homeowners.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It started out]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; 01]
[SUPER=01-Gary Gross/Homeowner; :16 QUICK!]
[SUPER=01-Mary Ellen Gross/Homeowner; :40]
[SUPER=01-Dave Brammer/Homeowner; 1:03]
[SUPER=01-Jennifer Maxfield/Resident-Firefighter;]
[SUPER=@Keith2;]
[RUNS=1:50]
[OUT Q=Humphry, NEWS 7.]
(( It started out as a brush fire- -cause for concern but not panic.
Then the wind picked up and several homes were in jeopardy.
The Gross family was just getting home from church- -when they saw the smoke and remembered they'd left a turkey in the oven for Sunday dinner...
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:56:10]
[IN Q=WE saw that]
((WE SAW THAT THERE WAS A FIRE BACK IN THE WOODS.)) [RUNS03]
[OUT Q=IN THE WOODS.]


(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=THE WIND WAS BLOWING]
((THE WIND WAS BLOWING REAL STRONG, AND BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT HERE, IT WAS SORT OF ALL AROUND THE HOUSES.
BUT IT JUMPED UP ON THE ROOF OF THIS HOUSE, AND EVEN WITH ALL THE FIREMEN HERE, IT STILL JUMPED UP ON THE ROOF OF OUR HOUSE.)) [RUNS12]
[OUT Q=of our house.]

Cedar shake shingles quickly ignited.
Brian Gross got the pets out safely, including Fluff, the cat.
A children's playhouse behind the home was destroyed. [12:58:25] ((THAT'S GONE. THAT'S TOTALLY GONE AND THE WOOD PILE IS STILL ON FIRE. BUT THE HOUSE, OTHER THAN THE ROOF LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE OKAY.)) [RUNS:08]
Fire and water damage was confined to the roof and attic of the Gross residence. [12:52:15]
[nice NAT SOT wide smoke]

Neighbors described seeing a wall of fire 40 feet high blowing up the gully between the two homes. [13:28 Dave Brammer] ((TREMENDOUS FLAMES, THEY WERE POURING UP THE HILL. WE'RE LUCKY THEY SHOWED UP WHEN THE DID, BECAUSE BOTH OF OUR HOUSES HAVE SOME FIRE DAMAGE TO THEM, BUT NOT MAJOR.)) [RUNS:10]
Next door to the Brammers, Jennifer Maxfield may have been the first one to notice the fire down below.
As luck would have it, she's a volunteer firefighter. She immediately dialed 9-1-1. She's embarrassed, because, by her own account, she panicked. ((AND SO MY COMPANY GOT THE FIRE OUT OF MY BACKYARD THEN I DID MY JOB.)) [RUNS:04]
A half dozen Roanoke County fire companies responded.
Roanoke City lent one of its water tankers.
A couple of county firefighters reported minor injuries... heat exhaustion and a sprained ankle.
Three or four acres of woods and brush burned, so the State Forestry Division was on hand, too.
Keith Humphry, NEWS 7.))

[S-Boat-Safety]


[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=99-25 tc 08:16]
[GRAPHIC=Boating Safety]

From fie to water ..
Warmer Spring weather will bring the boaters back to places Smith Mountain Lake--including some who don't know the rules of the waterway.
But, as Denise Allen explains, help isn't far away.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=boating is preceived]
[SUPER=01-Tom Maynard/Smith Mountain Lake Chamber; :13]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.; 19]
[SUPER=01-Paul Howell/Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries; :46]
[SUPER=@Denise2; 1:16]
[RUNS=1:22]
[OUT Q=Denise Allen, News 7.]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Boating]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]

To learn the rules of the road many boaters are taking the Virginia State Boating course offered by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Instructors also cover new laws for instance to operate a personal water craft you have to be 14 or older, but this year 14 and 15 year old operators have to have passed a boater education course.
More than 600 students took the course last year and instructors expect to educate more this year.
[SOT 4:28:09]
[IN Q=the numbers]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=more crowded]
[SOT 04:32:26]
[IN Q=the accident rate]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=to do with that]

Boaters who pass the course get a reduction in their insurance rates.
Denise Allen News 7.))

[7-WEATHER]


[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Sprinkg-like temperatures are returning. Here's a look at your Monday forecast.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mix of Sun/& Clouds/65-70/Mostly Clear/Light Breeze/40-45;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
Look for a mix of sun and clouds today for most of the region, a high of 65-70, but about 10 degrees cooler in the Highlands.

Tonight, mostly cloudy skies with a light breeze, lows of 40 to 45.[E-Roanoke-fire]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=98-81; 1:54:49]
[GRAPHIC=Brush Fire]
[SUPER=@Kimberly1]

Three or four acres were scorched by brush fires that also threated to destroy several expensive homes in Roanoke's Hunting Hills neighborhood.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Homeowners tried to douse the flames themselves with garden hoses, as the brush fire headed for occupied dwellings.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:28:38 ]
[IN Q=We had time]
((DAVE BRAMMER/HOMEOWNER:WE HAD TIME TO WORK OURSELVES. BUT WITH THE WINDS AND EVERYTHING, IT JUST BROUGHT IT THROUGH THE HOUSES VERY QUICKLY.))
[SUPER=01-Dave Brammer/Homeowner]
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=very quickly.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Brammer and others said they were hampered in their efforts by a lack of water pressure on the county water system.
County Fire Chief Rick Burch said that's to be expected.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:52]
[IN Q=When we hook]
((RICK BURCH/ROANOKE CO. FIRE CHIEF: WHEN WE HOOK OUR BIGGER HOSES TO THE FIRE HYDRANTS, WE WOULD DRAIN THE PRESSURE AWAY FROM THEM. WE WOULD TAKE THAT PRESSURE FOR OUR UNITS.))
[SUPER=01-Rick Burch/Roanoke Co. Fire Chief]
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=for our units.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT ]

Volunteers from Cave Spring, Clearbrook, Vinton, Mt Pleasant, Fort Lewis and Read Mountain fire companies were all called- -in addition to Roanoke City and the State Division of Forestry.
In the end only two homes were damaged, though several were threatened.
(-----------------------)

[S-Social-Dog]


[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-6; 51:31]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A dog named "Stormy" is helping to soothe the pain for a local boy suffering from Muscular Distrophy.
Keith Humphry has a profile of this boy and his special companion.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Many a ten-year old]
[SUPER=07-Evan Sutherland; :20]
[SUPER=01-Terry Sutherland/Evan's Mother; 1:22]
[SUPER=@Keith2; 1:30]
[RUNS=1:55]
[OUT Q=Keith Humprhy, News 7.]
(( Many a ten- year old longs to have a dog to play with, a companion who'll come when he's called, maybe even fetch some things for him.
It's a dream come true for Evan Sutherland, a fifth grader who's meeting the challenge of Muscular Dystrophy. [NAT w/ dog]
"Stormy," has BEEN in training for about a year. [9:05:15] ((I THINK SHE HAS TO TRAIN SOME MORE FIRST, SO SHE DOESN'T, LIKE, GO OFF WITHOUT ME AND STUFF LIKE THAT. Do you have trouble, keeping up with her, or does she have trouble keeping up with you? BOTH, I THINK. Really? UH HUH.)) [RUNS11]
This is their first weekend together.
A trainer at the St. Francis of Assisi Service Dog Foundation has been teaching Stormy to respond to basic commands. [9:13:10] ((STORMY, COME. GOOD GIRL.)) [RUNS04]
The purebred Labrador Retriever is still a pup. She won't turn two 'til April. She still has a lot to learn. [9:15:34] ((STORMY, SIT. SIT. STORMY SPEAK.UGH.)) [RUNS06]
They want "Stormy" to be able to call for help, in case an occasion arises where Evan can't speak for himself.
[NAT SOT: barks @ 19:15:55]

We first met Evan and the rest of the Sutherland family a little over a year ago. He was getting ready to go to the Super Bowl, courtesy of the "Make-a-Wish Foundation."
Back then Evan told us a dog like "Stormy" was the one thing he wanted more than a ticket to the Super Bowl. [9:19:35] ((SHE HAS BEEN OUR WISH COME TRUE FOR US. SHE IS NOT JUST A PET. BUT SHE HAS BECOME A PART OF OUR FAMILY.)) [RUNS09] [work in a shot @9:24 -"social Dog" sign]
Stormy is NOT a full-fledged "service dog," she's what they call a social dog, not certified to go into restaurants and other public places. [9:19:52] ((SHE'S JUST A COMPANION FOR EVAN, AND THAT'S BEEN A BLESSING TO US. SHE GOES WHERE HE GOES. AND EVEN THOUGH HER NAME IS STORMY, WE THINK SHE SHOULD BE NAMED "VELCRO," BECAUSE SHE STICKS RIGHT WITH HIM. AND SHE IS A GOOD FRIEND TO HIM AND HOPEFULLY, SHE'LL SOON BE HIS BEST FRIEND.)) [RUNS16]
Keith Humphry NEWS 7.))

[S-I81-Crackdown]


[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=98-78; 2:02:15]
[GRAPHIC=State Police Crackdown]

Speeders had to beware in eastern Virginia yesterday.
75 state troopers were patrolling I-95.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./March 11]

Accident PREVENTION is what it's all about- -now an average of once a week along the Interstate. State police put in overtime again Sunday, part of Governor Gilmore's call for stepped up enforcement of traffic laws on I-81.
Troopers saturated the roadway from Winchester to Bristol... nabbing speeders and other violators without warning.
(------------)

[45WEATHER]


[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Taking a break from the news to check the Monday forecast--
We'll call it a mix of sunshine and clouds, with highs nearing 70.
Becoming mostly clear tonight with lows in the low to mid 40s.
Looking ahead...
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mix of Sun/& Clouds/65-70/Mostly Clear/Light Breeze/40-45;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[S-Roanoke-fire]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-14; 11:05]
[GRAPHIC=Brush Fire]
[SUPER=@Kimberly1]

It was a scary Sunday for residents of Roanoke's Hunting Hills subdivision.
A stubborn brush fire that got out of hand threatened an row of homes in the neighborhood.
Keith Humphry got reaction from homeowners.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It started out]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; 01]
[SUPER=01-Gary Gross/Homeowner; :16 QUICK!]
[SUPER=01-Mary Ellen Gross/Homeowner; :40]
[SUPER=01-Dave Brammer/Homeowner; 1:03]
[SUPER=01-Jennifer Maxfield/Resident-Firefighter;]
[SUPER=@Keith2;]
[RUNS=1:50]
[OUT Q=Humphry, NEWS 7.]
(( It started out as a brush fire- -cause for concern but not panic.
Then the wind picked up and several homes were in jeopardy.
The Gross family was just getting home from church- -when they saw the smoke and remembered they'd left a turkey in the oven for Sunday dinner...
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:56:10]
[IN Q=WE saw that]
((WE SAW THAT THERE WAS A FIRE BACK IN THE WOODS.)) [RUNS03]
[OUT Q=IN THE WOODS.]


(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=THE WIND WAS BLOWING]
((THE WIND WAS BLOWING REAL STRONG, AND BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT HERE, IT WAS SORT OF ALL AROUND THE HOUSES.
BUT IT JUMPED UP ON THE ROOF OF THIS HOUSE, AND EVEN WITH ALL THE FIREMEN HERE, IT STILL JUMPED UP ON THE ROOF OF OUR HOUSE.)) [RUNS12]
[OUT Q=of our house.]

Cedar shake shingles quickly ignited.
Brian Gross got the pets out safely, including Fluff, the cat.
A children's playhouse behind the home was destroyed. [12:58:25] ((THAT'S GONE. THAT'S TOTALLY GONE AND THE WOOD PILE IS STILL ON FIRE. BUT THE HOUSE, OTHER THAN THE ROOF LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE OKAY.)) [RUNS:08]
Fire and water damage was confined to the roof and attic of the Gross residence. [12:52:15]
[nice NAT SOT wide smoke]

Neighbors described seeing a wall of fire 40 feet high blowing up the gully between the two homes. [13:28 Dave Brammer] ((TREMENDOUS FLAMES, THEY WERE POURING UP THE HILL. WE'RE LUCKY THEY SHOWED UP WHEN THE DID, BECAUSE BOTH OF OUR HOUSES HAVE SOME FIRE DAMAGE TO THEM, BUT NOT MAJOR.)) [RUNS:10]
Next door to the Brammers, Jennifer Maxfield may have been the first one to notice the fire down below.
As luck would have it, she's a volunteer firefighter. She immediately dialed 9-1-1. She's embarrassed, because, by her own account, she panicked. ((AND SO MY COMPANY GOT THE FIRE OUT OF MY BACKYARD THEN I DID MY JOB.)) [RUNS:04]
A half dozen Roanoke County fire companies responded.
Roanoke City lent one of its water tankers.
A couple of county firefighters reported minor injuries... heat exhaustion and a sprained ankle.
Three or four acres of woods and brush burned, so the State Forestry Division was on hand, too.
Keith Humphry, NEWS 7.))

[Boat-Safety]


[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=99-25 10:01 ]
[GRAPHIC=Boating Safety]

Warmer Spring weather will bring the boaters back to places Smith Mountain Lake--including some who don't know the rules of the waterway.
(----------------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

To learn the rules, many boaters are taking the Virginia State Boating course offered by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Instructors also cover new laws for instance to operate a personal water craft you have to be 14 or older, but this year 14 and 15 year old operators have to have passed a boater education course.
More than 600 students took the course last year and instructors expect to educate more this year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=08]
[SUPER=01-Tom Maynard/Smith Mountain Lake Chamber; :QUICK]
[OQ= to do with that.]
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Boaters who pass the course get a reduction in their insurance rates.
(----------------)

[8WEATHER]


[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Time to find out what Monday's forecast holds...
It'll be a pleasant day, with a mixture of sun and clouds, and high temperatures nearing 70.
Mostly clear and not as breezy tonight, with lows in the low to mid 40s.
The five day forecast...
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mix of Sun/& Clouds/65-70/Mostly Clear/Light Breeze/40-45;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
by SS