SWVA firefighter has died while battling Scott County wildfire

The Virginia Department of Forestry announced Sunday, a part-time firefighter has died while fighting a wildfire near Garland Drive in Scott County. James Ward was a resident of Scott County and had worked with the Virginia Department of Forestry for 26 years. Ward collapsed while working a fire line with a hand crew and was taken to Holston Valley Medical Center, where he did not recover. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Officials say over the last few days, Virginia Department of Forestry firefighters suppressed more than 30 wildfires, burning 1,000 acres in Southwest Virginia.