Firefighters are still working to contain the Madison County wildfire. It expanded further into Shenandoah National Park and the Rapidan Wildlife Management Area over the weekend. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
On Saturday, the fire that's been burning in the mountains of Madison County for two weeks crossed the containment line established by firefighters from the Virginia Department of Forestry and other agencies. It's now burned approximately 2,500 acres. Crews are working to clear a new containment line, primarily on the western flank of the blaze.
CORY SWIFT: And now our crews are just focusing on really tightening it up and ensuring there's no debris across the line. We're using bulldozers wherever we can, but again, an ongoing challenge with this fire has been how steep and rocky the terrain is. … So, wherever they can be used, we utilize those bulldozers, and where they cannot be used, firefighters are putting in the fire lines by hand.
Cory Swift is a communications specialist with the Department of Forestry. He said the fire hasn't reached any structures so far, but the sheriff's office has encouraged some residents in the area of Finks Hollow Lane to evacuate. The park has closed Graves Mill Trail and Wilhite Wagon Trail until further notice.
SWIFT: The weather has continued to be a challenge for us as well. … It's still dry here. … We've had little to no precipitation, and today it's once again windy with gusts between five and eight miles per hour.
They currently have two helicopters from the U.S. Forest Service dropping water on the fire to help slow it down.
SWIFT: Because of how large the fire has gotten … once we do get this fire contained, it will take an additional two weeks before we can say it has been fully extinguished.
There is still no official cause of the fire. The Department of Forestry will conduct an investigation once it's under control. They've asked area residents to hold off on burning anything outdoors until it rains.
