CRUMMIES CREEK BRUSH FIRE DEVOURS 23 ACRES - High Forest Fire Alert

(04/08/2010)

Crummies Ck. fire started near the main highway

After sparks reportedly came from an electric line, the tinder-box woods on the Right Fork of Crummies Creek burst into flames, rapidly spreading over 23 acres.

There is a high alert for forest fires in West Virginia.

The property was owned by forester Russ Richardson, who was in his yard when the fire started.

"It happened so quickly," he said, spotting smoke coming from the woods near the corner of his yard.

"Within a couple minutes it had spread around and up the hillside," Richardson said.

The fire also burned timber

Firemen from Arnoldsburg and the Upper West Fork VFD's responded at 2:30 p.m. and were on scene nearly seven hours, mostly up a super steep mountain.

Calhoun EMS remained at the scene in case of a medical emergency.

Firemen also struggled with high breezes and afternoon temperatures reaching into the upper 80s.

Serious forest fires sprung-up elsewhere in West Virginia during the past 24-hours, some devouring 500 acres.

Firemen were on-scene for about seven hours