Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 4, 1995 TAG: 9505040095
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-15 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The U.S. Forest Service is offering a $5,000 reward for information that will lead to the convictions of those who set two of the three fires. Almost 5,000 acres in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests were destroyed by those fires.
Woody Lipps, lead investigator for the Forest Service, said information that flooded in just after the fires has slowed to a trickle now.
The fires on Potts and Bald mountains started just off the roadside. Lipps said he believes the Cove Mountain fire was accidental.
"We're still in the phase of trying to find everyone who was in the area, and find out what they know," he said.
In particular, Lipps wants to find four college-age people before they leave for summer break. The two men and two women were hiking the Appalachian Trail in that area a day before the fire began.
Recent soaking rains, meanwhile, have removed the Roanoke Valley from serious fire danger.
Chris Thompsen, district forester with the Virginia Department of Forestry, said that will give his office more time to help the U.S. Forest Service find the cause of the fires.
"This will be the first time in nine weeks the office won't be open on the weekend," Thompsen said.
The area has received 1.14 inches of rain since May 1, half an inch less than the total for all of April.
Thompsen said the rain - plus new leaf growth - have greatly reduced the risk of another out-of-control forest burn.
Almost all counties in Southwest Virginia imposed strict burning bans in April because of the dry conditions and easily ignited ice-storm debris. Wednesday, all but two counties - Botetourt and Craig - had lifted their bans.
Open burning before 4 p.m. is prohibited until May 15.
by CNB