CHERRY GROVE, W.Va. — Despite a fairly heavy rain, a forest fire continues to burn in Pendleton County on the Monongahela National Forest. The latest information from the U.S. Forest Service indicated the Woodside Fire had grown to 343 acres on Saturday and only remained at about 30 percent containment.
“We got about a half inch of rain last night and that was good to receive. Because of how dry it’s been in this part of West Virginia in extreme drought conditions, we’re going to need more than this, but yes, the rain did help,” said Andrea Brandon, Spokesperson for the Monongahela National Forest.
The forecast calls for snowfall Sunday night and into Monday, officials say that would also be a big help to firefighters who have been at it for several days.
Crews continue battling the fire with a number of personnel from the U.S. Forest Service as well as local volunteer fire departments and the West Virginia Division of Forestry.
Aerial water drops continue today from a Type-2 helicopter around the fire’s edges. Crews are also on the ground using “burnout operations” which are described as, “a technique where crews intentionally set small, controlled fires to remove unburned vegetation between the active wildfire and the control line. This helps strengthen containment by depriving the wildfire of fuels and directing its spread into already burned areas.”
Starting today, they’ll add a night operations division to continue suppression efforts and maintain progress on containment around the clock.
The Vance Run Trail, near the Laurel Fork River, is closed for the public’s health and safety. Public are asked to stay out of the fire area for safety of themselves and firefighting resources.
Smoke may be visible in Circleville, Cherry Grove, Big Mountain, Thornwood, and surrounding communities. Motorists are asked to be mindful as smoke can shift and may affect visibility while driving. Dry and windy conditions continue to create elevated fire danger across the area. Residents and visitors are strongly encouraged to avoid outdoor burning and to always practice responsible fire safety.