Three years ago, a wildfire in Amherst County consumed more than 11,000 acres in the George Washington National Forest and on private land. Smoke could be seen from as far away as Lynchburg. More than 300 firefighters poured in to fight the blaze, which was extinguished with the help of substantial rain. Officials believe the blaze was human-caused.
A separate fire around the same time in the Eades Mountain area of Nelson County burned more than 1,600 acres before it was put out.
Wild fire
In this November 2016 file photo, a wildfire burns in the Lovingston area of Nelson County.Â
Fire
Smoke rises in the background from a brush fire just north of the village of Lovingston, seen Monday around 5 p.m. in the Food Lion shopping center.
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People watch smoke rise from a forest fire in George Washington National Forest in Amherst County on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016.Â
Forest Fire
Smoke rises from a forest fire in George Washington National Forest on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016.Â
Fire 6
A helicopter drops water on the fire consuming thousands of acres within the George Washington National Forest in Amherst County on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016.Â
Vrooman 2
Nathan Vrooman, 40, gauges the best way to extinguish the edge of a forest fire that’s reached his family’s property off of Franklin Creek Road in Amherst in November 2016.
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A helicopter picks up water from Thrasher Lakes and heads toward the forest fire in Amherst County on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016.Â
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A helicopter combating the fire in the Mount Pleasant area picks up water from Thrashers Lake on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016.
Forest Fire
Crews were battling a large forest fire in Amherst County on Monday November 21, 2016.Â
Forest Fire
Smoke rises from a forest fire in George Washington National Forest on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016.Â
Forest Fire
Smoke rises from a forest fire in George Washington National Forest on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016.Â
Forest Fire
A U. S. Forest Service employee walks along a fire line while fighting a forest fire on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 in Amherst County.
Forest Fire
A U. S. Forest Service employee prepares to fight a forest fire on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 in Amherst County.
Forest Fire
Smoke rises from a forest fire in George Washington National Forest on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016.Â
Forest Fire
A helicopter picks up water from Thrasher Lake as a forest fire is fought on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016.
Forest Fire
Smoke rises from a forest fire in George Washington National Forest on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016.
Forest Fire
A helicopter picks up water from Thrasher Lake as a forest fire is fought on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016.Â
Forest Fire
Smoke rises from a forest fire in George Washington National Forest on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016.Â
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Smoke rises from a forest fire in the Mount Pleasant area of Amherst County on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016.
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A U. S. Forest Service employee walks along a fire line while fighting a forest fire on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 in Amherst County.
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Smoke rises from a forest fire in the George Washington National Forest on Monday, Nov, 21, 2016.Â
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Smoke rises from a forest fire in the George Washington National Forest on Monday, Nov, 21, 2016.Â
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A year after a fire consumed more than 11,000 acres in the Mount Pleasant area of Amherst Co…
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