CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – UPDATED STORY: The Virginia Department of Forestry had several wildland firefighters on the scene doing mop-up through the midday from a brush fire that burned 1.3-acres near the Poplar Ridge trails. The trails were closed last night, and VDOT is working with UVA officials to determine when the trails will reopen. Meanwhile, the Department of Forestry’s Cory Swift-turner says though the fire is fully contained, smoke that can smelled on the bypass north of Fontaine may be visible in the area for another few days.

Charlottesville Fire responded initially to reports of smoke and fire near Poplar Ridge in the area of O-Hill which prompted coordinated response from CFD, Albemarle Fire and Rescue, UVA Police, and the Virginia Department of Forestry. Charlottesville Fire used a drone from the Fontaine station to locate a potential heat source, which was confirmed by crews on the scene. The fire was contained about an hour after the initial 10:22pm Sunday report, and all left except VDOF personnel. No cause has been determined at this time.

 

ORIGINAL STORY:

The smell of smoke apparent on the bypass north of Fontaine this morning after a brush fire burned a portion of the woods along Poplar Ridge Trail west of O-Hill late last night. Fire crews contained the blaze, but have been there throughout the night. A first UVA Alert went out 10:22pm Sunday about fire/police activity at Poplar Ridge Trail System. A few minutes later, the incident was described as a “brush fire along Poplar Ridge Trail… near the bypass”. A little less than an hour later, an Alert went out of the brush fire “stable”, and the Virginia Department of Forestry remaining on the scene. Trails in that area were closed, and no word about their reopening today.