Public Safety Spotlight: Lessons learned from the Matts Creek wildfire

Photo by Chris Morris

One of the most memorable events for Bedford County residents in 2023 was the Matts Creek wildfire in the George Washington National Forest.

Over the span of two weeks in November, the wildfire burned more than 11,000 acres of federal forest land near Big Island.

Once the dust (and smoke) settled, the Bedford County Department of Fire & Rescue was able to pinpoint several lessons learned from the incident. Here are their key takeaways for you:

There is a different firefighting approach with wildland fires — Typically, the goal in a large wildland fire is not to put it out, but contain it.

“One common misconception is that the goal was to extinguish the Matts Creek fire,” said Deputy Chief of Operations Abbey Johnston. “But oftentimes with wildfires, they set a containment zone right away. They will put water on the fire to slow it down, but the goal is always to contain it in those pre-set boundaries.”

Jurisdiction plays a big role in who responds to a wildland fire — Our Department of Fire & Rescue does not have jurisdiction (i.e. the power to make decisions) over the George Washington National Forest, which is federal land.

“We worked beautifully in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service,” said Johnston. “But it’s their operation and we don’t have the authority to send firefighters in there unless requested or they are needed.”

Landscaping around your home matters — If you live in an area with a lot of woods, the wildfire drew more attention to the importance of keeping all the structures on your property free from brush and debris. You want there to be cleared, open space between the woods and your home.

“This provides a barrier to slow or stop the spread of a wildfire,” said Johnston.

Access to your property is important — If all or part of your property is gated with a lock, register the gate with Emergency Communications (911) so that if there is an emergency in the area, first responders can easily gain access.

Stay connected and informed — There was a lot of information circulating as the wildfire spread. Residents should always seek information from official, trusted sources.

“Your best way to prepare in the event of a wildfire is to sign up for Alert Bedford to receive emergency alerts, monitor official news sources, have a bag packed just in case, and stay calm,” said Johnston. “Evacuations are a rare occurrence around here, but if they would ever become necessary, we have a plan in place to coordinate evacuation efforts with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office.”