With more than 15,000 acres scorched over six locations in six days, firefighters hoping for more rain Tuesday night and Wednesday
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, March 26 — The biggest news reported on Tuesday related to the region’s wildfires is that the Rocky Branch fire in Shenandoah National Park is now 76 percent contained and the closed section of Skyline Drive will reopen at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 27.
The national park fire is still listed as 987 acres, but firefighter teams are making enough headway that some personnel are being sent home.
“With increased containment of the fire, some personnel and equipment are being released from the
incident,” Tuesday’s report stated. “Firefighters continue to focus their efforts on mop-up operations along the fire perimeter.”
The report goes on to state that on Monday, “Firefighters continued mop-up along Skyline Drive and Kemp Hollow structures. Fire inside Wilderness areas was monitored. Crews completed removal of hazardous trees along Skyline Drive and continued to clear fallen trees on the Appalachian Trail. Firefighters continued to map the fire perimeter on the west side of the fire. An infrared flight showed very little heat with some isolated hotspots and did not detect active fires”
There are 72 personnel on the Rocky Branch fire including firefighters, engines, and overhead. On Tuesday, the report stated that “firefighters will resume clearing fallen trees on the Appalachian Trail. They will patrol Skyline Drive and maintain a presence along the fire perimeter. In Kemp Hollow, firefighters will continue to secure the fire edge. On the west side of the fire, they will continue to map the fire perimeter. Isolated hotspots in the remote northern section of the fire are being monitored.”
Tuesday’s report of the national forest fires on the west side of the Page Valley showed little change from Monday. Decreases in the acreage of the fire reflect better mapping. Recent rain did not change the footprint of the fire, it decreased fire behavior, according to one report. Firefighters continue to refine mapping by walking the fire perimeter.
Here is Tuesday’s report of the five fires in the greater region being tracked by the forest service:
• 6,257 acres, 29% contained (up from 20% Monday) — Waterfall Mountain/Shenandoah Forest/211 West Fire, Shenandoah and Page counties, Va. – Firefighters will identify ridges and roads for use in direct fire line construction. Crews have been improving current lines and progressing to the north and south along private lands. A containment line has been constructed to prevent fire from spreading on the fire’s west side.
• 4,361 acres, 42% contained (same as Monday) — Waites Run Fire, Hardy County, W.Va. – Firefighters remain committed to securing and patrolling existing lines on the west and south west sides. Crews will focus on improving handline, dozer lines and existing features in preparation for strategic firing operations. The challenging terrain and fuels make it difficult for firefighters to fight the fire directly.
• 2,622 acres, 75% contained (up from 45% Monday) — Capon/Brush Run Fire, Rockingham County, Va. –Firefighters have worked hard to establish a good containment line around the north edge of the fire. They continue to look for opportunities to identify and implement dozer line and handline, especially along the western edge of the fire.
• 1,198 acres (was listed at 1,245) , 8% contained (listed Monday as 80%)— Edith Gap/Serenity Ridge Fire, Shenandoah and Page counties, Va. – Firefighters will continue to secure fireline around the southeast side of the fire, monitor and patrol.
• 155 acres, 75% contained (up from 70% Monday) — Cove Mountain Fire, Hardy County, W.Va. – Firefighters will continue securing the control line on the southeast edge of the fire. Once this is complete, the fire will move into patrol and monitor status.
Tuesday is expected to produce increasing clouds ahead of an approaching cold front which could bring showers on Tuesday night into Wednesday. Behind the cold front, gusty winds are forecasted for later this week.
Virginia’s 4 p.m. Burning Law remains in effect until April 30, 2024. It bans open-air burning before 4 p.m. if the fire is within 300 feet of the woods or dry grass, which could carry fire to the woods. Burning is allowed between 4 p.m. and midnight as long as the burner takes proper precautions and attends the fire at all times.
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