Local firefighters battled a woods fire Saturday afternoon between VOA Road, Robersonville Road and Cherry Run Road west of Washington, near the county line. According to witnesses and telecommunicators, firefighters had difficulty getting to the blaze.

“There’s a lot of smoke and you can hear the woods crackling,” said one witness at the time.

Chocowinity Fire Department, Clarks Neck Volunteer Fire Department and Pactolus Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire, along with Forestry Service personnel.

All units were requested to vacate the woods at 2:10 p.m. to make way for a Forestry Service plow.

By 3:15 p.m. the fire appeared to be under control.