Sparks flew as water from firehoses struck them during a large fire at the M. Kendall Lumber Company in Blairs Friday night (June 13, 2008). Fire crews battled fires in piles of mulch and pinebark as well as inside the building adjacent to the mulch piles. The site was still in flames and smoldering mulch late into the night.

Blairs Fire & Rescue Capt. Mike Elliott said firefighters had been battling the blaze at the lumber company on U.S. 29 since about 7:30 p.m. Crews from the volunteer fire departments at Mount Hermon, Keeling and Ringgold assisted in firefighting efforts. Virginia State Police and Pittsylvania County Emergency Management teams also responded to the blaze.

Crews waited for utility company personnel to turn off power before venturing too close, but the early sparks worried some firefighters.

"Electricity follows water and those firemen holding the hoses could get electrocuted if it hits just right," a worried female volunteer said. At least one volunteer suffered minor injuries early in the blaze, but was moving under his own power as he sought first aid. No word on the cause of the fire. The area was the scene of another fire earlier this spring when an unoccupied trailer less than a mile from the scene caught fire. Crews were able to extinguish that in less than half an hour and there were no injuries.