Conditions continue to look favorable for the Peach Orchard prescribed burn today, Tuesday March 22.  Crews are assembling on site.  They plan to ignite a test burn later this morning.  If the test burn is successful, they will conduct the entire prescribed burn.  Check back for further updates!

If favorable weather conditions continue, fire managers plan to conduct the Peach Orchard Prescribed burn tomorrow , March 22.  Tentative plans are for an afternoon ignition.  Updates will be posted on this InciWeb page.  Please check back often to stay in the know!

Elkins, W.Va., March 21, 2022 — Monongahela National Forest plans to burn the Peach Orchard and Lick Mountain Prescribed Burns on Tuesday March 22, if weather conditions continue to be favorable. The 1,119-acre Peach Orchard burn area is located northwest of Blue Bend Recreation Area, specifically south of Forest Road (FR) 797, east of FR 296, north and west of FR 297. Lick Mountain burn area is 405 acres located west of Neola, specifically south and east of FR 796A, west of FR 796 and north and east of FR 796G.

These prescribed burns will restore, maintain, and enhance wildlife habitat by creating conditions that favor oak reproduction (or regeneration). Many animals depend on oak trees for food, eating acorns, leaves and even bark. Oak tree regeneration is a cycle. Mature oaks need to produce acorns, those acorns need to germinate into young oaks, and then those young oaks need enough sunlight to grow up and mature. A problem at any stage can make the entire cycle fail.

In the past, West Virginia oak ecosystems had widely spaced trees allowing sunlight to shine through gaps between the trees. Fires ignited by Native Americans, European settlers, and lightning helped maintain open forests of oak, chestnut and pine. These fires burned up dead leaves on the ground which allowed acorns to sprout (and survive) in soil rather than in a layer of leaves. Reduced fire activity during the 20th century increased tree and shrub densities, creating more shade on the forest floor and a deeper layer of dead leaves. This hindered oak regeneration and favored tree species whose seedlings can grow in the shade, like maples. These shade-loving trees do not provide the same kind or amount of food for animals to eat as oak trees.

Additionally, in the Peach Orchard area, open fields and brushy habitat along the edges of these fields has decreased during the past 50 to 75 years. Open and brushy edge habitat is important because it provides nesting, foraging and cover habitat for wildlife, such as songbirds, rabbits, grouse, turkey and similar animals.

Prescribed burning supports oak regeneration and maintenance of open/edge habitats. It also reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfires by consuming burnable material on the forest floor under specific weather and fuel conditions that keep the burn manageable. Monongahela National Forest follows strict guidelines for conducting prescribed burns, and takes into consideration environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, smoke dispersion and wind. If any environmental conditions are not within limits, the burn will be postponed.

The Peach Orchard and Lick Mountain burn areas will be closed to the public on the day of the burn, and may be closed for several days after, to ensure public safety. Signs will be posted on roads near the burn areas before and during burning. Residents and Forest visitors may see and smell smoke for several days. If you encounter smoke on the highway, slow down, turn on your vehicle’s lights and drive appropriately for the conditions.

Local radio stations will be alerted to burn activities ahead of time. When burning begins, information, photos, and maps will be available at InciWeb:

Peach Orchard: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8021/

 Elkins, W.Va., March 3, 2022 — Monongahela National Forest plans to conduct prescribed burns on 2,964 acres in Greenbrier and Pendleton counties from March through June, weather permitting. The purposes of these burns are to re-establish fire’s natural role in the forest ecosystem, improve forest health and wildlife habitat, and reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires.

Ramsey Fire Update

April 1, 2022
10:00 am 
 
Size: 3,456 acres
Containment: 90%
Road Closures and Evacuations: None at this time

The Ramsey Fire has showed very little activity over the past few days, crews will continue to patrol fire through the end of shift today and if no other activity is seen on the fire, then TAMFS will turn it back over to the local responders.

Ramsey Fire Update

March 31, 2022
10:00 am 
 
Size: 3,456 acres
Containment: 90%
Road Closures and Evacuations: None at this time

The Ramsey Fire has showed very little activity over the past few days, crews will continue to patrol the fire and mop up any remaining hotspots.

Ramsey Fire Update

March 30, 2022
9:00 am 
 
Size: 3,100 acres
Containment: 80%
Road Closures and Evacuations: None at this time

The Ramsey Fire showed very little activity yesterday, TAMFS dozer crews continue to widen and strengthen the containment line and engine crews continue to mop up hot spots and patrol fire. The Ramsey Fire did receive rainfall last night, but lightning strikes are always a concern for new starts. Crews plan to continue to staff the fire today.

Ramsey Fire Update

March 29, 2022
10:00 am 
 
Size: 3,100 acres
Containment: 75%
Road Closures and Evacuations: None at this time

The Ramsey Fire showed very little activity yesterday, a few single trees torched out within the interior of the fire and crews were able to address these quickly. TAMFS dozer crews continue to widen and strengthen the containment line and engine crews continue to mop up hot spots and patrol fire.
The plan for today is to continue these operations and monitor fire due to extremely high winds. 

Ramsey Fire Update

March 28, 2022
10:00 am 
 
Size: 3,100 acres
Containment: 65%
Road Closures and Evacuations: None at this time

Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) was requested back to the Ramsey Fire on Saturday, March 26th due to a break in containment. The wildfire made a 1000 acre run and was showing extreme fire behavior leading to the evacuation of residents along 1467.

TAMFS dozers continued to improve containment line yesterday while engine crews mopped hot spots and helicopters performed drops on areas of concern. Evacuations and road closers have been lifted. Crews will continue to patrol and mop up today.

Fire activity was minimal last night, the acreage is holding at 3,100 and containment has increased to 65%.

High winds today pose a concern for increased fire activity coupled with high temperatures, low RH and the already dry fuel beds.

Ramsey Fire Update

March 28, 2022
10:00 am 
 
Size: 3,100 acres
Containment: 65%
Road Closures and Evacuations: None at this time

Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) was requested back to the Ramsey Fire on Saturday, March 26th due to a break in containment. The wildfire made a 1000 acre run and was showing extreme fire behavior leading to the evacuation of residents along 1467.

TAMFS dozers continued to improve containment line yesterday while engine crews mopped hot spots and helicopters performed drops on areas of concern. Evacuations and road closers have been lifted. Crews will continue to patrol and mop up today.

Fire activity was minimal last night, the acreage is holding at 3,100 and containment has increased to 65%.

High winds today pose a concern for increased fire activity coupled with high temperatures, low RH and the already dry fuel beds.