BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — Crews from the West Virginia Division of Forestry and other groups will be back on the fire lines today at the Kessel Fire in Morgan County.
The blaze started Monday and according to the latest Division of Forestry update has consumed 260 acres of woodlands on the top of Cacapon Mountain. The fire is burning within the Cacapon Resort State Park. Authorities say they had achieved about 60-percent containment by late Wednesday.
Forestry officials say they have had success with back-burning operations. Those have enabled them to get a better handle on the fire. They’ve identified additional areas where they will continue to use back burning depending on weather conditions.
Blackhawk Helicopters from the West Virginia National Guard continued to aid in the operations by making aerial water drops to slow the fire’s spread and aid crews on the ground below. They’re ferrying water from the lake at within the park.
The ground crews include firefighters from the West Virginia Division of Forestry, Division of Natural Resources, and local volunteer firefighters. There have also been additional fire fighters who have been in and out of the area this week from Maryland and Pennsylvania to assist in the effort.