The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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October 12, 2008

Crews continue to battle brush fire in Glen Jean

Michelle James

A blaze firefighters have been dealing with for several weeks jumped its perimeters Sunday, burning approximately 25 acres close to the New River National Park in Glen Jean.

Mount Hope Volunteer Fire Department Chief Shane Wheeler said the fire originated two to three weeks ago at a gob pile, or an old coal dump that has been reclaimed.

Wheeler said 25 acres had burned previously as the fire jumped its perimeters and an additional 25 acres of woodlands burned Sunday.

Because the gob pile is underground, Wheeler said it is difficult and extremely dangerous for firefighters to battle, as crevices form, creating a danger for the ground to collapse.

“We basically build a perimeter around it (fire) and clear all the leaves and brush around it so it doesn’t go anywhere,” he said, explaining the safest method is to simply let the fire burn itself out.

Wheeler said crews with bulldozers will widen the perimeters this morning.

Sunday was the fifth time firefighters have been called to the blaze in the past three weeks, but Wheeler said it has generally been contained to just the gob pile.

The original fire, Wheeler said, is not suspicious and could have been caused by a number of things including lightning.

No injuries were reported Sunday and Wheeler said no structures were threatened by the fire.

Crews from Oak Hill, Pax, Ansted and the National Park Service assisted.

— E-mail:

mjames@register-herald.com

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