ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. (March 24, 2025) – Two separate brush fires in Roanoke County are now fully contained, but fire officials continue to monitor conditions as dry weather and high winds persist across the region.
One of the fires occurred along Route 311 in the Catawba Valley area. Officials say the fire began Friday, March 21, after wind reportedly caused a powerline to fall and spark flames that spread through trees and brush. Initially estimated at 200 acres, further analysis revealed the fire had burned 83 acres.
According to Roanoke County Fire & Rescue spokesperson Brian Clingenpeel, containment efforts involved a multi-agency response including the Virginia Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service. Crews used bulldozers to establish fire breaks and a helicopter to drop water on the fire. The blaze was declared fully contained by Saturday evening, March 22. No structures were damaged, and no injuries were reported.
A second wildfire, known as the Brush Mountain Fire, broke out along Newport Road on Saturday afternoon near the Audie Murphy Memorial and close to the Roanoke County–Craig County line. By Sunday morning, the Virginia Department of Forestry reported that the fire had burned approximately 130 acres and was 60% contained. However, later in the day the fire’s scope was reassessed at 482 acres with containment reduced to 20% before being corrected again to 160 acres with 90% containment by Sunday evening.
The U.S. Forest Service took over command of the Brush Mountain Fire due to its proximity to national forest lands. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail was temporarily closed between Craig Creek Road (Route 621) and Miller Cove Road (Route 620) for public safety. The fire did not lead to mandatory evacuations, but residents in the Equestrian Hills neighborhood were advised to stay alert.
Crews from Roanoke County, Craig County, Montgomery County, the Virginia Department of Forestry, and the U.S. Forest Service worked in partnership to contain the fire. Officials also warned that while no homes were affected, high winds and low humidity could lead to further fire activity elsewhere in the county.
“The dry conditions and wind create an environment ripe for wildfire,” said Clingenpeel. “Today is not the day to be burning outside.”
The cause of the Brush Mountain Fire remains under investigation.
Officials are asking the public to avoid the affected areas and stay updated via local emergency services and the Virginia Department of Forestry’s platforms.
