Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 15, 1995 TAG: 9504170077
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Richard Law, chief forest warden in Franklin County, said three volunteer fire crews and members of his department got to the blaze as it neared another house.
``It got to within 2 to 3 feet of a nearby house's deck,'' he said.
The burned house, which was about 50 percent completed, was destroyed. Law said he could not yet release information about the possible cause of the fire, but did say subcontractors were working at the site earlier in the day.
Besides destroying the house, four acres of woodland burned.
``This is the worst fire season I've ever seen, and I've worked here 16 years,'' Law said.
Laws counted 29 wildfires in Franklin County since Jan. 1. About 300 acres have been burned.
Despite a quarter-inch of rain this week, Law said that moisture is ``absolutely gone.'' A 24-hour burning ban remains in effect.
``The rain gives people a false sense of security,'' Law said, explaining that the ban will not be lifted until the county gets 3 inches of rain in a 24-hour period.
It took about 45 firefighters from Glade Hill, Snow Creek and Cool Branch volunteer departments to contain the fire. Law said 20-25 mph winds made the fire hard to control and helped the fire jump about 150 feet over a road and into woods.
by CNB