Fire crews battle brush fire in NK

A New Kent fire crew finishes extinguishing the brush fire in Barhamsville that destroyed the shed pictured.

Virginia Department of Forestry

A brush fire erupted last Thursday in Barhamsville in eastern New Kent County, burning about a quarter acre of woodland and a shed before being extinguished by fire crews. Fire fighters from the Virginia Department of Forestry, New Kent Fire and Rescue, and James City-Bruton Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire at 4227 Barham Road, behind the Barhamsville Post Office.

Crews had the fire under control in about 10 minutes, and all hotspots had been extinguished within two hours, said VDOF technician Paul Reier. The shed, which contained lumber and windows from the old Barhamsville schoolhouse, was destroyed. An investigation revealed the fire started from discarded woodstove ashes.

Reier said that even with the amount of rain the area has experience in recent months, tree leaves on the top of the ground dry out quickly thus residents should be cautious when burning or disposing of woodstove ashes.