Conditions are looking favorable for fire staff to continue burning in the Big Mountain Prescribed Burn area today, Wednesday April 28.  The burn area is south of Circleville in Pendleton County.  Fire staff are briefing on site this morning.  If conditions are favorable, they will ignite a test burn.  If the test burn is successful, they will continue with fire operations.

Please continue to check InciWeb throughout the day for updates. 

Conditions look favorable for fire staff to continue burning in the Big Mountain Prescribed Area on Wednesday April 28.  Please keep checking InciWeb for further updates.

The understory of approximately 60 acres of forested land was successfully burned today. Fire staff are now monitoring control lines and mopping up areas with heavier fuels.

Fire staff will monitor weather and fuel moisture conditions for additional burn windows in the Big Mountain Prescribed Burn area.  Please continue monitoring InciWeb for updates.

Update from the Big Mountain Prescribed Burn Boss: the burn is going well!  Fire staff are continuing to ignite unburned areas and patrol control lines.  All operations are normal.

Some smoke may be visible from State Route 28, near the Cherry Grove Dairy Bar.  Remember if you encounter smoke on the highway, slow down, turn on your vehicle’s lights and drive appropriately for the conditions. 

Keep checking InciWeb for the latest updates.

The test fire was successful and prescribed burning has started in the Big Mountain area south of Circleville in Pendleton County.  This 310-acre burn will be completed today. The burn area is closed to the public, and residents may see or smell smoke for several days.

Resources on the burn include personnel and equipment from the Monongahela, Six Rivers (CA), and Wayne (OH) National Forests.

For more information contact the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District at 304-257-4488.

Conditions are looking favorable for the Big Mountain Prescribed Burn today, Tuesday April 20.  The burn area is south of Circleville in Pendleton County.  Fire staff are briefing on site this morning.  If conditions are favorable, they will ignite a test burn.  If the test burn is successful, they will continue with fire operations.

The total burn area is 975 acres.  Fire staff plan to burn 310 acres today.

Please continue to check InciWeb throughout the day for updates. 

Conditions look favorable for the Big Mountain Prescribed Burn to take place tomorrow, Tuesday April 20.  Please check InciWeb in the morning for the latest updates.

Rain moved into the Big Mountain area late last week and over the weekend so fire managers did not have the right conditions to burn.  They are continuing to monitor weather and fuel moisture content for another burn window.  InciWeb will be updated when conditions begin to look favorable.  Please check back.

Fire managers are monitoring weather forecasts and fuel moisture content for the right conditions to burn.  Conditions may be right later this week, perhaps on Thursday April 8 or Friday April 9.  Please check back for updates.

Elkins, W.Va., April 1, 2021 — Monongahela National Forest plans to conduct a prescribed burn in the Big Mountain Project Area, southwest of Cherry Grove, this spring when conditions permit. The purpose of this burn is to re-establish fire’s natural role in the forest ecosystem, improve forest health and wildlife habitat, and reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires.

The burn area 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 nearby roads 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.

Prescribed fires are conducted under specific weather conditions and are designed to accomplish pre-determined forest management goals. Monongahela National Forest follows strict guidelines for conducting prescribed burns, and takes into consideration environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and wind. If any environmental conditions are not within limits, the burns will be postponed.

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

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