NEWS RELEASE: Roanoke County, VA—March 29, 2022) Roanoke County Fire and Rescue responded at approximately 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 to the 2500 block of Wildwood Road, in the Fort Lewis area, for the report of smoke near the power lines on the mountain. First arriving crews from Station 9 (Fort Lewis) found…… Continue Reading
Update: Two Roanoke County units and two Virginia Department of Forestry units did stay on the scene of this fire overnight. However, the size of the force was greatly reduced around midnight. Currently, all Roanoke County units have cleared the scene and it has been turned over to the Virginia Department of Forestry. It is…… Continue Reading
UDPATE: The brush fire in the Havens Wildlife Management area is 100% contained this morning. Virginia Department of Forestry will remain on scene today to continue mopping up and it is possible to still see some smoke as they do that. Once containment lines were put in around the fire, the total size was 67…… Continue Reading
NEWS RELEASE: This afternoon, a gun was fired in the bathroom at Lucy Addison Middle School. No one was injured. Police and school administration are on the scene and are investigating. We are asking parents to please stay where you are and do not come to the school. The school is currently on lockdown while…… Continue Reading
The FDA has now approved a 4th dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for COVID-19, for those 50-plus. Roanoke City and Alleghany health districts director Dr. Cynthia Morrow said this morning while the vaccines are not the “perfect tool” as far as eliminating any chance of infection, they have been proven to reduce…… Continue Reading
A recent arrival is carrying on a Mill Mountain Zoo tradition — the popular red panda exhibit. Long-time favorite Nova is now living in retirement quarters at the zoo. In her place is Frank, who is not quite four years old. Frank is very active, and the exhibit has been modified to let him access…… Continue Reading
After about two years of delivering a weekly virtual news conference on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic in the New River Health District, director Noelle Bissell conducted her last scheduled one today. There were a lot of lessons learned over the past two years says Bissell. As COVID-19 transitions from “pandemic” to “endemic” Bissell…… Continue Reading
Not content with redeveloping older properties in downtown Roanoke and in the Wasena neighborhood, John Garland has set his sights on Southside Virginia. In conjunction with Cherney Development – which recently turned the old Happy’s Flea Market into office and storage space – two former schools and a shuttered Winn-Dixie supermarket will become living spaces. …… Continue Reading
BEDFORD CO, Va. – Virginia State Police is investigating a single vehicle crash, which resulted in a fatality. The crash occurred Sunday, (Mar 27) at 2:50 a.m. on Big Island Highway, near Charlemont Drive in Bedford County. A 2003 Volkswagen Jetta was traveling south on Big Island Highway, when the vehicle ran off the right…… Continue Reading
The Associated Press Broadcasters Association has again honored WFIR for “Best Newscast” and “Outstanding Sports Operation” among stations in Virginia’s and West Virginia’s largest cities. The 2021 awards were announced Saturday in a competition that included stations from Norfolk, Richmond, and Charleston, WV. WFIR has received similar top honors in both categories in recent years.…… Continue Reading