Route 56 Closed From Route 608 to Blue Ridge Parkw
Incident: St Mary's Wildland Fire
Released: 3/28/2008
Fire managers in cooperation with Rockbridge County have closed Route 56 from the intersection with Route 608 to the Blue Ridge Parkway as part of a contingency plan to deal with the expanding fire.
"The fire changed course on the west side last night and moved around the end of the control line," said Incident Commander Glen Stapleton. "We're adjusting our plan and putting in some new fireline along the national forest boundary and tying that into Route 56."
There is no immediate threat to any structures and burnout operations may be conducted.
A public meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Vesuvius Community Center. The center is located on Cashmill Place near the intersection of Route 56 and South River Road in Vesuvius.
Safety officers are also asking the public to not park along Route 608 to watch the fire in the evening and at night since traffic congestion is restricting access and presents a hazard not only to firefighters but for those parked along the road.
