A Wildfire located in Virginia’s southern district of the Shenandoah National Park has grown from 200 acres to 500 acres, the National Park Service said in a statement about one hour ago.  The fire is said to be a controlled burn but some residents who say the fire is only a hundred yards from the closest house have grown uncomfortable with it being too close to home.  Some are preparing to evacuate if the fire comes any closer.

Photograph taken 4/17/2016 around 2:30pm by the National Park Service in Virginia.

Additional closure notifications were announced by the National Park Service today:

  • Skyline Drive from Swift Run Gap Skyline Drive has been closed from Swift Run Gap (mile 65, Skyline Drive) south to Loft Mountain (mile 79).
  • The Appalachian Trail has been closed from Simmons Gap (mile 73) south to Ivy Creek Overlook (mile 77).
  • The Pinefield Hut (mile 75) is closed.
  • The Rocky Mount Trail, the Gap Run Trail, and the Onemile Trail continue to be closed until further notice.
Location of fire and trail closures. Courtesy: Shenandoah National Park.

Those that remain open are:

  • Shenandoah National Park
  • Skyline Drive
  • Major highways
  • Visitor facilities in the park and Skyline Drive and adjacent communities

(c) 2016 The #NWFireBlog