MIDDLEPORT - A Thursday afternoon brush fire involved four volunteer fire departments and around 60 firefighters in the Pity Me area near the Meigs-Gallia county line.

The Middleport Volunteer Fire Department was the primary responder to the fire which was described as being on public property just past Story's Run Road and near the old rock slide. Middleport received assistance from the Pomeroy, Rutland and Bashan departments.

Lt. Chris Snouffer of the Middleport Fire Department said the scene was remote, requiring four-wheel drive vehicles which complicated fighting the fire as did the heat, dry conditions and wind. All of these variables led to firefighters being on the scene for six hours.

Snouffer said at this point there was no cause determined for the fire, which was actually a series of several small fires. There was no estimate on the acres which burned.

There was no damage done to bordering private property or to fire fighting equipment. Snouffer said one firefighter was temporarily affected by heat-related illness but otherwise there were no injuries.

The brush fire rekindled later, sending Middleport and Pomeroy back to the scene which was a process that last around three hours.

At least one Gallia County fire department was on standby Friday to assist Jackson County firefighters with a major brush fire on Limerick Road.