Single Publication

Statistics

• Acres: 3,877 (increase in acres due to more accurate mapping)
• Containment: 40%
• Location: 970 Quaker Run Road, Syria, VA 22727
• Date of Origin: October24, 2023 
• Cause: Undetermined
• Structures Destroyed: 0
• Crews: 9
• Helicopters: 2
• Engines: 7
• Dozers: 6
• Personnel: 201

Fire Activity

Yesterday, firefighters had another productive day mopping up hot spots, strengthening containment lines, monitoring and patrolling. They also checked on the privately owned Rapidan Family Camp and ran sprinklers on and around Camp Hoover, also known as the Historic Rapidan Camp—National Park Service. A video of firefighters working on Camp Hoover is available at https://bit.ly/FFatCampHoover. Crews did find several snags along containment lines and continue to remove those for safety reasons. Fire behavior was minimal with only a few minor and isolated smokes. No one observed open flames or active fire spread.

Today, firefighters will continue with similar work—remove snags, look for and mop up hot spots, strengthen and widen containment lines, monitor and patrol— in preparation for Monday night’s predicted wind event. They will again run the sprinklers around Camp Hoover, as well as check the area around the Rapidan Family Camp and homes in and around Syria.

Weather 

Today will get off to a cold start. Afternoon highs will be the coldest temperatures the area will see all week. Some morning clouds will give way to mostly sunny skies around or just before noon. High temperatures will be in the upper 40s on ridges and in the low- to mid-50s in the valleys. Relative humidity will be 45 to 50%. Tonight, will bring mostly clear skies, with low temperatures from 20 to 30 degrees. Maximum relative humidity will be near 90 to 100%. Monday will start even colder, but temperatures will reach as high as 60 degrees. Active fire weather conditions are possible Monday night into Tuesday.

Fire Behavior

Minimal fire behavior is expected today, but fuels are drying and could become modestly available during the afternoon. Cold temperatures this morning will delay the availability somewhat. Any burn window would be short and most likely limited to the mid-afternoon on a south- or west-facing slope. Even then, fire potential would be low and limited to low rates of spread with low flame lengths. Heavy fuels may cause isolated smokes or smoldering 

Fire Bans

• Madison County has issued a county-wide burn ban. Outdoor burning is prohibited on all private and public land. Violations are punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor as well as potential responsibility for the full amount of all expenses incurred in suppressing such fire. For more information, visit https://www.madisonco.virginia.gov/AlertCenter.aspx.
• Shenandoah National Park has implemented a complete fire ban. Building, attending, maintaining or using an open fire anywhere within the boundaries of the park is prohibited. This ban includes all wood, charcoal, coal or other solid-fuel open air fires and fires in grates, grills, rings or pits in campgrounds, picnic areas, shelters and huts. For more information, visit https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/quaker-run-fire-information.htm.

Evacuations

There are no evacuations in place for the Quaker Run Fire.

Smoke

Air quality is currently excellent. Additional information is available at https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/l/xxx_nz5bvpxt?.

Closures

Shenandoah National Park

The following closures are in effect in Shenandoah National Park:

• Rapidan Camp area near the eastern boundary in the center of the park. The closure includes the area around the historic camp and the trails leading to it including the following:
  • Mill Prong Trail
  • Mill Prong Horse Trail
  • Stony Mountain Trail
  • Fork Mountain Trail
  • Laurel Prong from Cat Knob intersection
  • Upper Dark Hollow Trail (does NOT impact access to falls)
  • The lower Rapidan Fire Road beyond the portion open to bicycles
• Graves Mill Trail from the intersection of the Staunton River Trail to the Rapidan Fire Road
• Wilhite Wagon Trail

Rapidan Wildlife Management Area – Rapidan Tract

Due to wildfire activity in the area, the Rapidan Tract of Rapidan Wildlife Management Area is temporarily closed in the interest of public safety. In addition, per Code of Virginia § 29.1-521, it is illegal “to kill or capture any wild bird or wild animal adjacent to any area while a field or forest fire is in progress.”

Temporary Flight Restrictions

A temporary flight restriction is in place over the Quaker Run Fire area from the surface up to and including 6,500 feet to provide a safe environment for firefighting. For more information, visit: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_7678.html.

Donations

If you are considering donating to the Quaker Run Fire firefighting efforts, please take them to the Madison County Department of Emergency Medical Services at 1494 N. Main Street, Madison, VA 22727. Thank you.