500 Acres Northeast of Jamestown Burn in Grass Fire

Gusty winds and the continuing dry conditions contributed to the rapid spread of a grass fire that started on Saturday about 6 miles northeast of Jamestown. Jamestown Rural Fire Department Assistant Chief Rick Woehl said that a “significant fire” was reported at 4:42 p.m. on Saturday. JRFD headed to the scene with nine units. There, firefighters found the blaze burning in a roadside ditch. The firefighters attempted to stop the main fire line, but limited vehicle accessibility, rough terrain and 25 mph wind gusts permitted the fire to continue to grow.

It grew wider and marched forward too fast for the nine JRFD units to contain it, and with a handful of farmsteads in the fire’s direct path, JRFD called for assistance from Wimbledon, Courtenay and Jamestown City fire departments. Those departments responded with seven additional units, bringing the total to 16 units on scene. Local farmers also came out to help, using tractors and discs to help limit the fire’s spread. Red Cross volunteers were also on site. The fire was under control by about 8:45 p.m., at which point Wimbledon, Courtenay and Jamestown City departments left the scene. JRFD continued putting the fire out and cleared the scene at 11:45 p.m. No one was seriously injured (one JRFD firefighter left the scene with a pulled muscle), and the only losses were a number of fence posts, the 500 acres of land burned, and a nozzle and hose.

The JRFD returned to the scene on Sunday morning to fully extinguish a few woodpiles and trees that were still burning/smoldering.

The fire’s cause is under investigation.

Because of its timing, this blaze has been nicknamed “The Final Countdown Fire” (Saturday’s date was 4-321).