Location: The High Butte burn unit is located in the Keokee Lake area, approximately ten miles southwest of Appalachia, VA, 2.8 miles southeast of Keokee, VA, two miles south of Exeter, VA, and 4.75 miles west of Big Stone Gap, VA.

Date and Time: Forest Service fire specialists are planning to ignite approximately 2,800 acres this Saturday, April 23. Firefighters will continue to monitor the prescribed burn area and smoke may be visible for several days. 

Purpose: This burn helps keep the public and homes safe by reducing the buildup of dried leaves and wood in nearby forest land that can lead to uncontrolled wildfires. This burn will improve wildlife habitat by restoring open woodlands and grasslands to the forest landscape.

Additional Information and Road/Trail Closures. The trail systems around Keokee Lake may be closed. The lake will be open to fishing with limitations. Fishing from the bank will be allowed only on the west side of lake to the damn. For your safety, please follow posted signs and trail closures when they occur. The controlled burn is expected to have lingering smoke effects in parts of Wise County including the town of Keokee, and Exeter and surrounding areas. Depending on wind direction, residents and travelers in these areas may see or smell smoke.

Fire specialists burned portions of this area earlier this spring. By burning the area in smaller units at different times in the season, residents and visitors in the area experience less smoke at one time. Burning both early and late in the season creates habitat diversity that is important for forest health.

Firefighter and public safety is our number one priority and fire specialist will conduct this prescribed buns only if weather conditions are appropriate.

For the most up-to-date information visit the inciweb site: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7945/ and follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GWJNF and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GWJNF
 
 

April 22,  2022 – Harrisonburg, VALocation:  The 5862-acre Archer Knob prescribed burn is located in Augusta County, VA on Great North Mountain, 2.7 miles southwest of Craigsville and seven miles northwest of Deerfield.

April 22, 2021 – Blackburg, VA

Location:  The Kelly Flats prescribed burn area is located in Giles County north of Big Stoney Creek Road (State Route 635), north of the town of Interior, and approximately eight miles north of Pembroke.   

Date and Time:  The Forest Service plans to begin ignitions on unit 3, a 97-acre area of the prescribed burn on Sunday, April 24 if weather conditions are appropriate. Firefighters will continue to monitor the area for several days after the burn.     Objective:  This project aims to improve wildlife habitat by restoring open woodlands and grasslands to the forest landscape and help reduce hazardous fuels that can lead to uncontrolled wildfire.

Additional Information:  Hikers on a nearby section of the Appalachian Trail and travelers on Big Stoney Creek Road may see smoke during the prescribed burn. Smoke can settle in low lying areas in the evening and residents may see and smell smoke for a few days. Please drive slowly and use caution when travelling in the area.  

Fire specialists burned portions of this area earlier this spring. By burning the area in smaller units at different times in the season, residents and visitors in the area experience less smoke at one time. Burning both early and late in the season creates habitat diversity that is important for forest health.

For the most up-to-date prescribed fire information visit the InciWeb site: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7945/

For more information visit our website www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj, or follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GWJNF and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GWJNF

Today Forest Service Fire Specialists will be burning a small, 1.2-acre area beside the High Knob Tower on the Clinch Ranger District. This burn will prepare the meadow for planting native wildflowers later this spring. Visitors can expect to see smoke and firefighter activity for a brief period of time the afternoon of April 20. 

Location: Big Wilson burn area is located two miles southeast of Hot Springs and is located on lands administered by the USDA Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy.

Date and Time: Forest Service fire specialists together with The Nature Conservancy will continue burning a portion of the Big Wilson burn area on both Forest System Lands and Nature Conservancy lands on Friday, April 15. The ignition-phase planned for April 15 on Forest Service lands will be completed in one day; however, larger areas of the burn unit are planned to be burned next week, weather permitting. You may see smoke from this prescribed burn for several days.

Purpose: Prescribed burns improve wildlife habitat by restoring open woodlands and grasslands to the forest landscape. Safety is the Forest Service’s top priority, and Forest fire managers will conduct prescribed burns only under appropriate weather conditions.

Additional Information and Road and Trail Closures:  Sandy Gap Trail (Forest Trail 637) will be temporarily closed for the duration of the burn. Dolly Anne Road, also called Smith Creek Road, (Forest Road 125) will have increased truck traffic. The prescribed burn is expected to have lingering smoke effects in the surrounding area.

Firefighter and public safety is our number one priority.

For the most up-to-date information visit the InciWeb site: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7945/ and follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GWJNF and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GWJNF
 

Location:  The Mill Creek prescribed burn is located east of Fenwick Mines Recreation site, five miles northeast of New Castle, VA off of State Route 615 (Craig Creek Road).

Date and Time:  Fire Specialists have cancelled the 369-acre burn scheduled for Friday, April 15. 

Purpose: This prescribed burn improves wildlife habitat by restoring open woodlands and grasslands to the forest landscape.
Additional Information:  Visitors to the Fenwick Mines Recreation Area may see and smell smoke. Smoke may also be visible from New Castle, Barbours Creek and Oriskany. Depending on wind direction on the day of the burn, residents of Oriskany and the Craig Creek Valley along Craig Creek Road may smell smoke.
Safety is the Forest Service’s top priority, and Forest fire managers will conduct this prescribed burn only under appropriate weather conditions.
For the most up-to-date information visit the InciWeb site: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7945/ and follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GWJNF and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GWJNF
 

Location:  The Gauley Ridge prescribed burn unit is south of Gate Mountain and 20 miles northeast of the City of Harrisonburg.

Date and Time:  Fire specialists will begin the 1,320 acre burn on Friday, April 15, if weather conditions allow. The ignition phase may take one to two days. You may see smoke from this prescribed burn for several days.

Purpose: This prescribed burn improves wildlife habitat by restoring open woodlands and grasslands to the forest landscape. Many animals need open grass and shrub habitat to survive. This burn will assist the USDA Forest Service with fuel reduction and help eradicate invasive plant species.

Additional Information and Road Closures:  Slate Lick Run Road (Forest Service Road 230) and the Gauley Ridge Road (Forest Service Road 423) will be temporarily closed for short periods of time during the burn. Residents of Harrisonburg, Fulks Run, Broadway, Timberville and Singers Glenn may see or smell smoke, as may travelers on State Routes 259 and 612. Depending on wind direction, this controlled burn may have lingering smoke effects.

Safety is the Forest Service’s top priority, and Forest fire managers will conduct this prescribed burn only under appropriate weather conditions.

For the most up-to-date information visit the InciWeb site: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7945/ and follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GWJNF and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GWJNF

 

April 14, 2022
Location: Cable Gap burn unit is located three miles northeast of Pound, VA, 2.7 miles southeast of  Jenkins, KY and approximately 1.8 miles southwest of Gaskins and Burdine, KY

Date and Time: Forest Service fire specialists will continue the 1,300-acre burn on Thursday, April 14. Fire specialists burned a small portion of this prescribed burn area in March which improved fire containment lines, making this operation safer for personnel. A portion of the unit will be ignited on Thursday and ignitions will continue on Friday, weather permitting. Firefighters will continue to monitor the area for several days until the fire is extinguished by rain. You may see smoke from this prescribed burn for several days.

Purpose: This burn will improve wildlife habitat by restoring open woodlands and grasslands to the forest landscape.

Additional Information and Road and Trail Closures:  Pine Mountain Trail (Forest Trail #201), Austin Cemetery, South Mountain Road, and part of White Oak Creek Road may be closed. For your safety, please follow posted signs and trail closures when they occur. The controlled burn is expected to have lingering smoke effects in Wise and Letcher counties. Depending on wind direction, residents and travelers in these areas may see or smell smoke.
Firefighter and public safety is our number one priority. This prescribed burn has been rescheduled several times over the last few weeks in order to ensure that weather conditions are appropriate. 

For the most up-to-date information visit the InciWeb site: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7945/ and follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GWJNF and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GWJNF

  

Location:  The 827-acre Grindstone burn unit is located on Grindstone Mountain in Augusta County, one mile west of Stokesville, VA.

Date and Time:  Fire specialists will begin the prescribed burn on Wednesday, April 13 if weather conditions allow. This prescribed burn will be completed in one day.  Firefighters will continue to monitor the area for several days after the burn.   You may see smoke from this prescribed burn for several days.

Purpose: This prescribed burn improves wildlife habitat by restoring open woodlands and grasslands to the forest landscape. Many animals need open grass and shrub habitat to survive. This burn will also help eradicate invasive plant species.

Road Closure:  A 2-mile section of County Road 95 will be temporarily closed during the burn.  This closure will begin at the intersection of Tillman Road (Forest Service Road 101) and County Road 95 and will extend approximately two miles westward. 

Additional Information: Residents of surrounding areas including Stokesville, West Augusta, Briery Branch and Bridgewater may see and smell light smoke for several days, especially in the mornings and evenings.  Smoke may be visible along sections of County Road 95 and Tillman Roads for the duration of the burn.

Firefighter and public safety is our number one priority. For your safety, please follow posted signs and comply with trail closures when they occur. Depending on wind direction, this controlled burn may have lingering smoke effects.

For the most up-to-date information visit the inciweb site: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7945/ and follow us on twitter: https://twitter.com/GWJNF and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GWJNF

For more information on our prescribed burn program, please contact the North River Ranger District at (540) 432-0187 or visit our website www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj

Location: The High Butte burn unit is located in the Keokee Lake area, approximately ten miles southwest of Appalachia, VA, 2.8 miles southeast of Keokee, VA, two miles south of Exeter, VA, and 4.75 miles west of Big Stone Gap, VA.
 
Date and Time: Forest Service fire specialists, The Nature Conservancy, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and the Virginia Department of Forestry, among others, are planning to begin the 3,368-acre burn on April 11, 2022. Ignitions could last through Saturday, April 16th. 
 
Purpose: This burn helps keep the public and homes safe by reducing the buildup of dried leaves and wood in nearby forest land that can lead to uncontrolled wildfires. This burn will improve wildlife habitat by restoring open woodlands and grasslands to the forest landscape.
 
Additional Information and Road/Trail Closures: Keokee Lake and its trail systems, and Keokee Lake Road may be closed. For your safety, please follow posted signs and trail closures when they occur. The controlled burn is expected to have lingering smoke effects in parts of Wise County including the town of Keokee, and Exeter and surrounding areas. Depending on wind direction, residents and travelers in these areas may see or smell smoke.
 
Firefighter and public safety is our number one priority.
 
For the most up-to-date information visit Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7945/ and follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GWJNF and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GWJNF.