Several acres of brush in a wooded area off Statler Run Road burned Monday night.
The cause of the fire is unknown, Blacksville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kevin Wilson said.
He estimated 8-10 acres were on fire and said it was mostly underbrush that burned — the trees are still standing.
“All the small stuff is gone,” Wilson said.
No buildings or people were damaged or injured because of the blaze.
The call came in between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Wilson said. Firefighters were on scene until about midnight.
Fighting the fire was difficult because of several factors, Wilson said. The high wind kept blowing sparks from trees and spreading the fire past the lines of defense established by firefighters. The fire was also in an area that vehicles, except 4x4s and side-by-sides, couldn’t access.
Wilson said the firefighters used leaf blowers and brush rakes to create a firebreak and contain the fire, before extinguishing the fire in the center.
Firebreaks are strips of bare soil or fire retarding vegetation meant to stop or control fire, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service. They can be used to reduce wildfires, grant safety to firefighters by creating a defensible area and reduce the intensity of wildfires.
Cassville VFD, Wadestown VFD, Fairview VFD, the Monongalia County Brush Fire Team and Mon EMS also responded to the call.
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