Smoke visible a mile away as Harrisonburg crews save structure from vehicle fire

The Harrisonburg Fire Dept. responded to a "vehicle fire threatening a structure" around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, according to emergency communicators. The fire was on private land in the 1560 block of Smithland Road neighboring the Smithland Road Soccer Complex.

The site was around one mile northwest of the I-81 Exit 247 cloverleaf interchange with Rt. 33. At times, thick black smoke drifted across the interstate.

Smoke also wafted into the city's "bird streets" neighborhood.

Quick action from the firefighters contained the flames mostly to a pickup truck, which fire reduced to a blistered metal skeleton. Burning rubber from the pickup's tires contributed to the dense smoke plume.

The top of a nearby Quonset-style building was scorched a bit —or perhaps just sooted-up. The building otherwise didn't appear seriously damaged, according to photos briefly present on social media.

Three fire engines, Tower 1, and a Rescue 40 ambulance were among responding units.

The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center around 4 p.m. Thursday tweeted, "Smithland Rd. is closed north of the Roundabout due to a structure fire incident in that area." The center around 7:15 p.m. tweeted, "Smithland Road has been opened from the previous fire scene."