UPDATE: According to the Albemarle Department of Fire Rescue, crews responded to three major fires Wednesday. One fire is out, the second is 75% contained and the third is 25% contained.
ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Local officials have declared a Local Emergency in Albemarle County, as well as an evacuation alert in the Taylor’s Run area, as crews respond to around 10 active brush fires of varying sizes.
According to the Albemarle County Department of Fire Rescue, three buildings are currently involved in the fires and several other structures are threated by fires that are not yet contained. Crews are also responding to several reports of smoke spotted around the county.
These fires are taking place during a Red Flag Warning from the National Weather Service amid high winds and low humidity — and they come a day after a brush fire believed to have been caused by an open-air burn razed nearly 35 acres off of Seminole Trail in Albemarle.
Albemarle residents are asked to take the following steps to protect themselves from wildfires and to prevent them from spreading:
- Report any active fire to 911.
- Do not burn.
- Please avoid all fire scenes.
- Protect yourself from smoky conditions by remaining indoors or wearing a mask or scarf while outside.
