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The U.S. Forest Service and Botetourt County Fire Department have been working to keep two fires under control since Wednesday.
BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. — Firefighters are working to contain two wildfires in the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia.
The fires are between Botetourt and Craig counties, which are located just north of Roanoke. According to the Botetourt County, the local fire department responded to a brush fire near Bald Mountain in Oriskany around 7 a.m. Wednesday. That is being called the Bald Mountain fire and as of Thursday, it is still spreading.
Two miles away, another fire was found. Botetourt County said that high winds and low humidity helped it rapidly grow throughout the day and overnight Wednesday. That is being called the Lignite fire.
The Bald Mountain fire exploded in size between Wednesday and Thursday. Firefighters estimated the fire was about 1,648 acres and spreading Thursday morning — more than four times the size of the over 380 acres it was burning in Wednesday evening.
The Lignite fire is approximately 127 acres, and Botetourt County said it is largely contained.
No homes are at risk. One hunting cabin was threatened, but is still protected, Botetourt County said. Virginia residents in the area may be able to smell smoke through Friday, as the smoke plume from the Bald Mountain fire is covering most of the southern parts of Botetourt County.
In a video shared by the Craig County New Castle Volunteer Fire Department, hotshot crews from California are helping contain the fire.
U.S. Forest Service is leading the days-long response, with help from local, state, out-of-state and federal agencies. Multiple helicopters are also helping.
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