By Jon Robertson (Contact / Staff Bio)
March 28, 2008 - 08:26 a.m. EST

WALHALLA — Firefighters spent Thursday night on the scene of a six-acre fire along State 28 near Mountain Rest.

The South Carolina Forestry Commission is fighting the flames, which spread near Stumphouse Road by the evening. Foresters are fighting fire with fire, however, by burning fuels with a low-grade fire that should prevent the wildfire from spreading.

No structure threats were reported by press time, according to Forestry Commission spokesperson Scott Hawkins.

Fighting fires in mountainous terrain can be difficult, Hawkins said, as fire can race uphill with ease.

“You can’t just use tractor plows everywhere,” he said. “You have to rake debris by a hand line. It’s a labor-intensive effort.”

Foresters planned to stand by throughout the night and monitor wildfire activity until the fire burns itself out, Hawkins said.