Firefighters battled three separate brush fires along the GW Parkway during Monday evening’s commute.
The fires were first reported just before 6 p.m., and ultimately prompted a response of at least a half dozen units from the Arlington County, Montgomery County, and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall fire departments.
“At approximately 5:50 p.m. the Arlington County Emergency Communications Center began receiving multiple calls for brush fires near the First Scenic Overlook extending north on GW Parkway,” said Taylor Blunt, Public Information Officer for the Arlington County Fire Department. “Our first unit arrived within four minutes and confirmed other fires to the north and requested additional units to the scene.”
Two of the brush fires were extinguished relatively quickly. The third was reported out around 6:45 p.m.
“At this stage, we do not know the cause of the fires,” Blunt said. “This incident serves as a reminder of the increased fire danger due to the recent dry and windy weather conditions. We again ask that everyone properly discard smoking materials and not have any open burns.”
A Red Flag Warning was in effect in Arlington and the region over the weekend, amid high winds and a lack of recent rainfall. Brush fires were reported in Loudoun County and Montgomery County on Sunday.
More on the GW Parkway fires, below, via social media.
Fire in brush and trees on east side of GW Parkway about mile north of 29 exit. Not pictured is @ArlingtonVaFD present and en route. No traffic jam seen northbound yet. @ARLnowDOTcom pic.twitter.com/Q4h4SDxWgJ
— Clarendon Nights (@clarendonnights) March 15, 2021
Report of multiple fires along the GW Parkway north of the Key Bridge. @ArlingtonVaFD on scene. @ARLnowDOTcom https://t.co/7Sm4JVTRZx
— Dave Statter (@STATter911) March 15, 2021
GW parkway by the scenic pull off is on fire. Two patches, but trucks only covering one so far. @ARLnowDOTcom pic.twitter.com/pJ5rMHO3Zp
— Critical Formulation (@bramblerambles) March 15, 2021
#Update Our initial units are working to extinguish the brush fires and have observed additional fires extending north on GW Parkway. Additional resources have been requested to the scene.
— Arlington Fire & EMS (@ArlingtonVaFD) March 15, 2021
#FinalUpdate All brush fires are now out. Units will be clearing NB GW Parkway shortly. Expect residual traffic delays. Our thanks to @FortMyerFire and @mcfrs for their assistance.
—#REMINDER – there is increased fire danger in the region due to low humidity and gusty winds.— Arlington Fire & EMS (@ArlingtonVaFD) March 15, 2021
Screenshot via @bramblerambles/Twitter