Suff brush fire contained to 85 acres

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Crews have contained a Suffolk brush fire to about 85 acres along Gates Road near the Isle of Wight County line.

It's been burning since Wednesday, July 21.

The Suffolk Fire Department and the Virginia Department of Forestry are monitoring the smoke and flames. A fire line has been established, said city spokeswoman Debbie George.

George added that Sunday night's rain did not help much.

Small patches of flames and areas of smoldering tree stumps and vegetation greeted firefighters Friday afternoon. This was a day to wait and watch--watch for signs the fire is moving beyond the area where it is contained.

"The hotspot right now is kind of the head of the fire," said Jeff Darr of the Virginia Department of Forestry. "It's away from the origin right now. It's just some unburnt pockets of material that did not burn last night and now, due to the low humidity and this is pretty much the hottest part of the day, they're kind of flaring back up."

Darr is from Gloucester County. The Virginia Department of Forestry brought in fresh crews from north of the James River.

Fighting forest fires in this week's heat and humidity can take a toll, says Battalion Chief Chuck Knight of Suffolk Fire and Rescue.

"It really does take a lot out of the guys very early on so, therefore, you have to give them more breaks, which in turn, you have to have more crews available in order to give more breaks."

Chief Knight says no one has been hurt or has had to go to the hospital.

The usual procedure in fighting forest fires is to contain it and then let the fire burn itself out, hoping for rain. Firefighters return periodically to check on it.

The one area still giving forestry workers a problem is beyond a 30-foot ditch. Hand tools and fire rakes were used to attack the fire, says Darr.

"We had to get on our hands and knees to climb up the other side of it, that's why it's very hard. We weren't able to get the dozer in at that point."

Darr says that fireline looks very good but cautions.

"It's the one to babysit right now."