Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 22, 1993 TAG: 9308220084
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: E-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short
Some people said flames were nipping at their heels as they pulled camping gear out of danger on Friday. No one was injured and no camping gear was lost. About 30 to 40 acres of the park's 2,700 acres were burned.
"We just tried to stay ahead of it and warn people," said Glenn Campbell, 31, of Norfolk, who helped clear about a dozen camp sites. At times, the fire "was 10 feet from us and the winds must have been blowing at 25 mph."
"We were grabbing coolers and cook stoves and tents . . . anything we could get our hands on," he said.
The fire was reported about 2:45 p.m. and was contained before 4:30 p.m., authorities said. All available park personnel, about 30 city firefighters and Army fire crews from Fort Story helped fight the blaze.
The cause of the fire was not known, city Battalion Chief Michael Wade said.
Buildings escaped damage, but flames burned away a 20-foot section of a wooden walkway over sand dunes.
Firefighters had trouble keeping up with the wind-driven flames.
"Anytime you get wind, and as dry as it has been, it's going to be difficult," said Wade.
The fire did not spread into woods that run adjacent to the beach, but stayed on a dune line several hundred feet wide.
by CNB