ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, Va. — Fire crews in Isle of Wight County have contained a large brush and structure fire, but firefighters are still working to knock down multiple hot spots, according to Isle of Wight Fire Chief Gary Windley.
The fire sparked Sunday in the 16000 block of Bowling Green Road, forcing deputies to shut down several nearby intersections. The Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office urged drivers to avoid:
- Bowling Green Road at Carroll Bridge Road
- Bowling Green Road at Longview Drive
- Longview Drive at Woodland Drive
- Woodland Drive at Carroll Bridge Road
Windley said the blaze “lived up to the red flag warning” that was in effect Sunday, adding that strong winds made it difficult to get in front of the fire and that several structures were threatened.
A garage with an apartment above it did catch fire, but it was vacant. No injuries were reported.
Windley told News 3 it remains unclear how the fire started, but investigators believe they have a good idea of where it originated.
The response drew every fire department in Isle of Wight County, along with crews from Suffolk, Hampton and Surry. Departments from Newport News, Ivor, New Kent and Powhatan County backfilled stations to maintain coverage. Windley said officials also declared a local emergency because of the fire’s rapid spread.
The First Warning Weather Team, including meteorologist Derrah Getter, reported that Sunday’s red flag warning was fueled by gusty winds and very low humidity — conditions that intensified the fire and contributed to the dangerous spread.
