Single Publication

**Strategic Firing Operations Possible This Week**

Residents will see increased smoke in the Waites Run and Capon Fires fire areas starting Tuesday. Firefighters will use strategic firing operations to bring uncontrolled fire to a more manageable location within fire control lines. Strategic firing operations are also used to bring fire to a specific control feature (road, trail, handline, dozer line) where firefighters can safely and effectively manage and monitor the fire. Strategic firing operations can be conducted on the ground by hand, by helicopter or drone when conditions are too dangerous to place firefighters in the area.  

Please follow the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests on Facebook https//www.facebook.come/gwjnf for current information about strategic firing operations. We will post notification alerts so surrounding communities will know when smoke is from planned operations. 

Individual Fire Updates

1. Waterfall Mountain/Shenandoah Forest/211 West Fire (6,257 acres, 20% contained) Shenandoah and Page Counties, VA – Helicopters dropped approximately eight buckets of water yesterday on the fire’s north side. Today firefighters will continue to improve current lines and make progress on constructing lines to the north and south along private lands.
2. Waites Run Fire (4,361 acres, 42% contained) Hardy County, WV – Firefighters will continue to build control lines to tie into roads on the east side of the fire. Crews will look for pockets of unburned fuels for potential strategic firing operations.
3. Capon/Brush Run Fire (2,622 acres, 45% contained) Rockingham County, VA – Firefighters completed dozer and hand line on the north side of the fire yesterday and will patrol and monitor the fire today. Crews also will look for pockets of unburned fuels for potential strategic firing operations.
4. Edith Gap/Serenity Ridge Fire (1,245 acres, 8% contained) Shenandoah and Page Counties, VA – Firefighters will patrol, monitor and mop up around the fire, especially in the area where control lines were tied into a previous hazardous fuels treatment area.
5. Cove Mountain Fire (155 acres, 70% contained) Hardy County, WV– Firefighters will continue securing the control line on the southeast portion of the fire. Once this is complete, the fire will move into patrol and monitor status. Fire management officials have reduced the containment percentage based on information gathered from better mapping and firefighters working in the area. 

Air attack is scheduled to fly today around 3 p.m. to assess fire activity and coordinate with ground resources.   

The cause of the fires is undetermined but under investigation.

Resources 

• 2 Type 1 crews    
• 2 Type 2IA crews       
• 3 Type 1 and 3 Type 3 helicopters     
• 14 engines             
• 2 dozers       
• 258 personnel

Weather 

Today will be sunny and dry with terrain-driven winds; light easterly winds on the ridgetops. Temperatures will warm into the mid-50s which is close to normal for this time of year. Relative humidity should again slip down to about 30% in the afternoon. On Tuesday, increasing clouds are expected ahead of an approaching cold front which could bring rain showers on Tuesday night into Wednesday. Behind the front, gusty winds are forecasted for later this week.

Fire Behavior 

Fuels continue to dry under full sunshine. Fire activity remains minimal, but isolated smokes are visible around the perimeter. Fuels may dry to the point of allowing for creeping or very low intensity fire spread during late afternoon. Significant activity is not expected.

Closures on the National Forests are in effect - see https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gwj/home/?cid=fseprd1169242

Smoke and Air Quality

Air quality is currently good. Additional information is available at www.airnow.gov. 

Safety

We ask the public to avoid areas with active fire for their own safety and to allow firefighters to work safely. Public and firefighter safety is always our top priority. In addition, please do not fly drones near or over a wildfire. Drones and firefighting aircraft are a dangerous mix and could lead to accidents or slow down wildfire suppression, including water drops. If you fly, we can’t. 

Burn Ban

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. For more information, please visit https://dof.virginia.gov/wildland-prescribed-fire/fire-laws/4-pm-burning-law.

Contact Information 

• Email: 2024.NorthZoneComplex@firenet.gov        
• Phone: (540) 613-8377 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)