Several County Fire Departments Respond to Large Commercial Fire

BLACKSTONE – A large commercial fire had fire companies from Nottoway, Lunenburg and Prince Edward as well as other counties responding.

The call took place on April 21 at 2:41 p.m. The Nottoway County Emergency Communications Center received a call for a large commercial fire at FDCE Conversation and Bioenergy involving a 100’ x 300’ open storage shed containing multiple large bales of switchgrass along with multiple tractors and pieces of machinery. 

Approximately 45 personnel from Blackstone, Fort Pickett, Crewe, Kenbridge, Farmville, McKenney, and South Hill Fire Departments as well as Nottoway County Rescue Squad responded to the fire located at 224 Butterwood Trail in Blackstone, adjacent to Fort Pickett Virginia National Guard Base. 

 Fort Pickett Fire-Rescue arrived initially and observed heavy fire conditions under the entire length of the open shelter with machinery involved as well.  Firefighters quickly began attacking the fire and setting up a rural water supply relay from two fire hydrants at 10th Street and Dearing Avenue on Fort Pickett. 

Mutual aid fire companies were called from within Nottoway, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Dinwiddie and Prince Edward counties to assist with personnel and extra tanker trucks for water relay operations.  Multiple local private companies supplied heavy machinery to assist with removing the burning bales of straw grass to an open area outside the structure for extinguishment. Multiple agencies remained on the scene currently and expected to be involved in operations throughout the night. Victoria Fire and Rescue provided station fill-in during initial operations. 

Blackstone Fire Department officials stated, “Thank you to all those that supported this operation.”