Last night, at approximately 10:04 p.m., the Wythe County E-911 dispatch center received a call from Jerry Porter Chief of the Speedwell Volunteer Fire Department. Porter stated that he had received reports from area residents of a forest fire roughly one-mile south of the community of Speedwell.

Dispatchers immediately notified the US Forestry Service (USFS) of the fire.

At 10:30 a.m., USFS told county officials that the fire’s size was approximately 40-acres. The forestry service also stated that firefighters were working to erect a containment line.

USFS says that approximately 20 firefighters are expected to be on the scene by noon.

Additionally, two dozers and a helicopter have been ordered to the area.

“The county has been in contact with the US Forestry Service and we will continue to monitor the situation very closely,” said Wythe County spokesman Jeremy Farley.

Farley added, “It is important to note that the fire is entirely located in the National Forest and that Wythe County residents and their property are in no significant danger. Should anything change, we will notify the public immediately. ”

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