For several hours this afternoon, fire personnel from Bridgeport and several other agencies battled a brush fire that covered several acres in an area behind the Via Veneto property in Bridgeport, according to Chief Phil Hart.

 

The call for the brush fire came into the Harrison County 911 at 1:45 p.m. Although brush fires aren’t uncommon, many times they’re contained within minutes of arrival of emergency personnel or prove to be nothing. This one, however, did not fit that bill.

 

“Upon our arrival there was a working brush fire that we had limited access to it,” said Hart. “It took us about an hour and a half to get the fire under control once we arrived.”

 

Complete access was gained by cutting trees along a logging road. Four-wheel drive vehicles, including those transporting water and brush trucks, were then able to get into the area where the burning brush was creating the problem.

 

Even after the fire was contained, fire personnel remained on the scene. Hart said that move is primarily precautionary and a standard rule as personnel didn’t want to allow for the brush to reignite after the area had been contained, which was ample in size.

 

“According to fire personnel on the scene, it’s an area of about six to seven acres,” said Hart, who was manning a staging area in the parking lot across from Via Veneto. “This is pretty substantial for the Bridgeport area … The key after you contain it is to make sure that there’s nothing burning inside the perimeter. With the wind and dry conditions you could easily get a spark blowout and you can easily see it rekindle.”

 

Bridgeport Fire Department took the lead on the call. However, as part of the mutual aid agreement among several entities in the area, brush units from Anmoore and Nutter Fort Volunteer Fire Departments responded. The West Virginia Division of Forestry also was involved on the scene.

 

Hart said there has been no determination for what sparked the fire. He said the matter is under investigation. As of 4:30 p.m., the call was still active.

 

Editor's Note: Bridgeport Fire Chief listens to personnel on the scene battling the afternoon brush fire that tore up more than six acres.