CHERRY GROVE, W.Va. — Steep and rocky terrain is slowing progress on putting out a forest fire in the Monongahela National Forest in Pendleton County. The Woodside Fire started Wednesday in the Cherry Grove community, but since then the blaze has widened to about 100 acres and remains only about 30 percent contained.
“We’ve got a dozer line constructed and we’ve got hand crews out there trying to strengthen and reinforce our containment line. This is incredibly steep, mountainous, rocky terrain so it’s definitely hard going,” said Andrea Brandon, Public Information Officer for the Monongahela National Forest.”
Teams from the U.S. Forest Service are working alongside firefighters from the West Virginia Division of Forestry and a number of local volunteer fire departments in Pendleton County. The crews are working at both the top and bottom of the mountain to try and contain the fire on either end and keep it from spreading.
“We have a west flank and an east flank working on this fire,” said Brandon.
The crews are also being supported from above by firefighting aircraft.
“We do now have a Type 2 helicopter on site and it has water dropping capabilities. We’re using it to keep the fire’s edge cool during critical fire weather and to actively suppress this fire,” she added.
The weather has been an issue with more sunshine and sustained winds on Friday, but the forecast going into Friday evening looked promising with some rain on the way.
So far the fire has not posed a threat to any structures. A cause for the fire remains an active investigation.