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From Salem Fire and EMS: The Salem Fire & EMS Department responded to a structure fire at 425 White St. this morning at approximately 1:27 a.m. Two people were inside the home at the time of the fire, but both escaped without injury. The first units arrived within six minutes of receiving the call and found heavy smoke and fire coming from the building. The fire was brought under control within seven minutes of the arrival of the first engine. The building did sustain fire and smoke damage, but the fire was contained to the kitchen. Approximately 14 personnel from the Salem Fire & EMS Department (Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, Truck 1, Battalion 1 & Fire Medic 1) responded to the call. Roanoke Fire & EMS (Engine 4) and Roanoke County Fire & Rescue (Tanker 9) was on standby to cover additional emergency calls for the City of Salem. The Salem Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire was caused by unattended cooking and the damage from the fire is estimated to be approximately $50,000. The residents of the home were displaced and are staying with family.
From the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office: Bedford County 911 dispatchers received a call at 8:50 p.m. Wednesday night from Georgia Pacific in Big Island. The caller reported a man had fallen into a machine. Big Island Fire Department and rescue units along with Bedford County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene. The victim of the accident is Robert C. Dameron, age 44, of Natural Bridge. The body was transported to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Roanoke. The Virginia Department of Labor will investigate the incident. Because of the ongoing investigation no further comments will be made until the investigation is completed.
(Roanoke Fire-EMS photo)
From Roanoke Fire-EMS: Early this morning around 12:20 am crews responded to a fire in the 1000 block of 12th St., SE. This is the third fire at this vacant house this year and the cause has been ruled as incendiary (intentionally set). No injuries were reported. If you have any information about this fire, please call the Roanoke Fire Marshal’s Office at 540-853-2795.
From the City of Salem: The Salem Fire & EMS Department responded to a structure fire at 425 White St. this morning at approximately 1:27 a.m. Two people were inside the home at the time of the fire, but both escaped without injury. The first units arrived within six minutes of receiving the call and found heavy smoke and fire coming from the building. The fire was brought under control within seven minutes of the arrival of the first engine. The building did sustain fire and smoke damage, but the fire was contained to the kitchen. Approximately 14 personnel from the Salem Fire & EMS Department (Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, Truck1, Battalion 1 & Fire Medic 1) responded to the call. Roanoke Fire & EMS (Engine 4) and Roanoke County Fire & Rescue (Tanker 9) was on standby to cover additional emergency calls for the City of Salem. The Salem Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire was caused by unattended cooking and the damage from the fire is estimated to be approximately $50,000. The residents of the home were displaced and are staying with family.
From Roanoke County Police: On 11/23/2016, at 4:21 PM, a blue 4 door vehicle, possibly a 90’s model Honda Civic, pulled up to the front of the Carter Bank and Trust at the intersection of Plantation Rd. and Hollins Rd. A white male subject wearing a dark colored ski mask, dark jacket, tan/gray pants and white sneakers, exited the front passenger seat of the vehicle. The subject went into the bank carrying a black back pack and removed what appeared to be a semi automatic style firearm. The subject began demanding money from the bank personnel. Personnel gave the subject money and he then exited the bank and got back into the vehicle. The vehicle was last seen traveling on Hollins Rd. towards Botetourt. If anyone has any information about who the subjects are, or the incident in general, they are asked to contact the Roanoke County Police Department at 540-562-3265 This case is still under investigation.
Stephon Blackmon-McClane
From the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office: On Tuesday November 15th, 2016 at approximately 10:50pm the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a burglary at the Speedy I81 convenient store located at the exit 162 off interstate 81. A witness passing by the store reported they observed a male subject take off running and carrying multiple items. Sheriff’s Office personnel arrived within minutes and discovered entry had been made into the store. A perimeter was established and a K-9 officer from the Sheriff’s Office was called in. The subject was tracked using the K-9 and arrested without further incident. The suspect was identified as Stephon Blackmon-McClane of Statesville North Carolina. He is currently being held at the Botetourt County jail without bond for charges of breaking and entering as well as grand larceny.
The U.S. Forest Service is implementing a fire ban until further notice in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, the result of the recent drought conditions. It means no campfires or stove fires outside of developed recreation area, and even then, there are some limitations in those areas. You can still use stoves, lanterns and other equipment that uses liquid fuels.
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Montgomery County has joined the list of localities instituting a burn ban. It means any burning of leaves, limbs, bonfires, or anything else outdoors is banned until further notice. It’s the result of the very dry conditions we have encountered in recent weeks. Blacksburg, for instance, has recorded about one-quarter of an inch of rain total in the last 31 days.
UPDATE: Virginia State Police have cancelled the Amber Alert. Authorities say both the child and abductor have been located.
EARLIER: Virginia State Police have issued an Amber Alert out of Charlotte County for a missing 4-year-old girl. Police say they have been looking for Annabelle Richardson since last week and believe she may have been taken by Dylan Richardson. They could be traveling in a Chevy burgundy van with license plate VMG2332 toward New Jeresy. Authorities believe she is in extreme danger.
Full details can be found here
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