The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

November 15, 2009

Ranger: Arson suspected on park service land

By Amelia A. Pridemore

National Park Service rangers say arson is suspected in a Sunday afternoon brush fire on its property in Raleigh County.

The four-acre fire near Cloverdale Road in Bragg and near Interstate 64’s Bragg exit was reported at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, said Ranger Frank Sellers of the NPS’ New River Gorge National River. Crews from the NPS and the Beaver Volunteer Fire Department worked through the evening to contain the fire. The last firefighters left the scene around 7:30 p.m.

Sellers said the crews dug a fire line around the fire in a wooded area to keep it from spreading. Some hot spots still remain, and crews will return today to fully extinguish them.

No structures were damaged, and the only thing that burned appeared to be leaves on the forest floor, Sellers said. No injuries were reported.

NPS personnel will return to the scene with personnel from the state Division of Forestry to conduct an investigation, Sellers said. Although the investigation is not complete, Sellers did say arson is suspected.

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