Abingdon firefighters battled two fires Tuesday night/Wednesday morning in the area behind the York River Crossing Cinemas at Hayes, according to Abingdon Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad training captain Drew Luellen. Both fires resulted in no damage to nearby buildings.

Firefighters responded to the first fire at 6:54 p.m. Tuesday, getting it under control about an hour later. “You could see the glow from the fire from Hayes Road,” said Luellen. When units arrived at the scene, the fire was approximately 35 feet in the air. He said that this was a problem for them because the trees were also burning and the hose could reach only so high.

The closest fire hydrant was out of service so they could not use it. Two EMS were at the scene, along with one fire engine and five firefighters. 1,000 gallons of water were used to put out the flames.

Early Wednesday morning, a second fire occurred in the same area, which was rekindled from the pine needles, leaves and other litter. Firefighters were back at the scene from about 7 to 7:40, with one engine and four firefighters.

500 gallons of water were used for the rekindle. Luellen said that the fire started in an area that was just a pile of brush and no one knows for sure what started the fire, but it is not believed that the fire started on its own.