FRANKLIN COUNTY, VA — A quiet Sunday in Southwest Virginia took an unexpected turn when a forest fire ignited in the Henry area of Franklin County, sparked by a downed power line. The blaze is the latest in a stretch of wildfires that have kept emergency crews across the region on high alert, with recent fires also reported in Botetourt County, Craig County, and Hillsville.
Around 11 a.m., first responders from Franklin and Henry counties arrived to find flames climbing steep hillsides thick with underbrush. The rugged terrain made every step a challenge.
Bassett Fire Chief Junior Lynch described the scene with the honesty of someone who’s seen this kind of fight many times before.
“This one’s in steep terrain and it’s very thick… it does make things more difficult because you can’t be running hose lines in there,” Lynch said.
With hoses limited, the Virginia Department of Forestry brought in heavy equipment, using bulldozers to carve firebreaks through the woods — wide dirt buffers that stop advancing flames in their tracks.
For folks who live on those mountainsides, the fire was more than just a headline.
Curtis Philpott, whose family has tended land on the mountain for generations, watched the response closely as the fire edged near property lines.
“A fire’s concerning to anybody. You’ve got neighbors, and your timber’s worth value… Anytime a fire starts, you want to go right to it,” Philpott shared.
Thankfully, old timber-cutting paths on the property provided a lifeline. Skidder rows — narrow trails used during logging — gave firefighters and bulldozers better access to the flames.
“When they cut timber on the property, they’ll have little skidder rows, and that opens it up for a fire truck or a bulldozer to get in,” Philpott added.
Even though this fire was sparked by a downed power line — not human activity — Chief Lynch used the moment to remind everyone in the community just how dangerous the current conditions are.
“It’s a red flag day. Low humidity and high winds… I would advise everyone do not burn today,” he warned.
Crews have contained the blaze, but officials say parts of the forest will continue smoldering for another day or two. Other brush fires across Southwest Virginia are also contained, but the threat remains as dry winds sweep the region.
This time of year, even a small spark can turn into a dangerous situation. Local fire officials encourage residents across Vinton, Franklin County, and the surrounding areas to stay alert, stay safe, and think twice before burning outdoors until conditions improve.