CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A fire in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is 95% contained, the National Park Service announced on Saturday.
“The crews put in another day of good work, and we feel confident that the crews will have full containment by the end of shift on Sunday,” an official told MetroNews.
The fire in the Beauty Mountain area was first reported on Nov. 29 and had grown to 150 acres at one point.
Resource management staff are working on a rehabilitation plan for the fire. Officials said the low-burning fire was ecologically beneficial, and there will be minimal work on fire suppression efforts.
A fire suppression module from Pennsylvania has left the scene to assist with a different effort in Virginia.
The National Park Service is anticipating a gusty Sunday afternoon and rain on Monday morning. An official said the agency expects to “release our resources back to their home units” on Monday.