Henrico neighbors react to massive brush fire: ‘It got ugly really fast’

Firefighters say high winds, dry conditions, and low humidity contributed to a massive brush fire in Eastern Henrico County on Monday that scorched 75 acres of farmland. The flames spread quickly across land bordering Route 5, near Laburnum Avenue.

“It got ugly really fast,” said nearby homeowner William Kulp.

William and Jodi Kulp, who own Honey Pot Farms on New Market Road, say they got a call from a tenant around 5:15 p.m. announcing there was a massive fire burning near their home and livestock. The couple rushed home immediately.

“I was nervous for the firemen,” William Kulp says. “There were guys dropping hoses and running because the fire was coming so fast, and it just moved across the field so fast. It was like wind tornadoes and fire tornadoes that were shooting up the air. It was hot, it was really hot!”