Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 9, 1994                   TAG: 9411090088
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: STANLEY                                LENGTH: Short

FOREST FIRE FORCES PEOPLE FROM HOMES

The fire on Dovel Mountain was burning toward about 25 buildings in the Dovel Hollow community about three miles south of Stanley, said Forestry Department spokesman Lou Southard.

The department declared a voluntary evacuation about noon. People were allowed to return to their homes about 4 p.m. as the fire was being brought under control, Southard said.

``The wind conditions are pushing the fire down the mountain,'' Southard said. ``There's been no sign of rain in that area, so the conditions are dry. We have fresh leaves on the ground. The fire is burning in an area where the pine beetle was active, and there are a lot of ice-damaged trees.''

The Southern pine bark beetle has been killing pine trees in Virginia at an epidemic rate for several years. Severe ice storms last winter left dead wood across Western Virginia.