PAGE COUNTY, Va. — Multiple wildland fires sparked in Page County on Wednesday. Now, local officials are urging Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to declare a state of emergency as the fires are pushing beyond the limits of what local resources can handle.
In a letter, Page County Board of Supervisors Chairman Keith Weakley says the county declared a local emergency due to hazardous fires that were intensified by high winds.
A Red Flag Warning was issued Wednesday morning, but in the afternoon several fires were growing beyond what local resources could handle. Homes were evacuated and the flames also spread into Shenandoah National Park. The Rocky Branch Fire, has grown to 1200 acres and remains at 10% contained, according to the National Park Service on Friday.
When the letter was posted on Facebook, Weakley said the fires have grown to more than 3,400 acres and burned multiple homes.
"[Ten] to 20 structures are now ash," the chairman wrote.
However, days after the fires, only one is 10% contained. Virginia Department of Forestry spokesperson Cory Swift said to the Associated Press Thursday that more than 100 new fires popped up Wednesday.
"Our local agencies are exhausted, both mentally and physically, and we have a dire situation that is continuing to rage out of control," Weakley's letter reads.
The Board is urging Youngkin to declare a state of emergency for Page County so that crews can utilize state resources to help contain the situation and prevent any further home or property loss.
"We have just been watching with horror and terror as the fire grows and grows," said Charlotte Stewart.
She and her husband live in Maryland, but also own a home in New Market, Virginia. They say their neighbors and social media have kept them up to date on the fire that has spread quickly through their community.
Friday night, they shared the above image with WUSA9. The photo, they say, was taken by their neighbor Margaret Mack. The Stewart's say the fire was less than 3,000 feet from their home at the time of the photo.
"It's growing by the minute by the hour, and it's people's homes. Homes and neighborhoods are directly in the path of this fire. We need help," they told WUSA9.
Senator Mark Obenshain, who represents the parts of Page County that have been impacted by the fires, told WUSA9 he had also reached out to the Governor about the concerns expressed by Page County officials. He posted a copy of the letter on Facebook.
He says if the Governor declares a state of emergency, it helps Page County it would help the county get much needed resources.
"It also allows resources to be deployed for recovery efforts," he explained.
"This is a county with 100% volunteer fire service. These folks are exhausted. They're worried about their homes. They're worried about their neighbors. These firefighters have now taken three days of work and committed themselves to 16 hours a day in the field fighting fire," said Senator Obenshain
"These volunteer fire companies have depleted in a couple of instances their entire years worth of fuel allowance. Funding is short," said Obenshain.
He told WUSA9 he had spoken with the Governor Friday afternoon.
"The Governor is plugged in, I've spoken to him today. They have deployed resources. They're doing what they can," he said.
WUSA9 reached out to the Governor's office to get his response to the request from Page County. A spokesperson directed WUSA9 to these posts on Governor Youngkin's social media.
The Stewart's say they hope the Governor will step in and help, before it's too late.
"I would urge the Governor to imagine it was his home in the path of the fire. What would he wish were done? I'd imagine he would want every possible resource allocated to saving his home," said Charlotte Stewart.
On Saturday, Gov. Youngkin released the following statement about fire response efforts:
"On Friday, after further coordinating with State legislators and Page County leadership we initiated a Regional Emergency Response Effort to deploy funding and resources against fires impacting Page County, beginning with fuel trucks that arrived overnight. We are providing support with meals and provisions, bringing in additional volunteer firefighter capacity to give our brave firefighters who have been working through the nights some respite. Recovery Support Teams through VDEM will be in place today to meet with local authorities and initiate damage assessments.
Additionally, VDEM is also deploying a Logistics Support team to further assist Page County and VDOF on any other resource needs. This response is directed most acutely in Page County and we are continuing to closely coordinate with local emergency response teams with the fires burning in the surrounding areas of Rockingham, Augusta, Highland and Shenandoah to ensure that resources and capabilities remain available. Since Wednesday, the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF), Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and State Police (VSP) have been an integral part of coordinating a unified approach to this complex firefighting effort. There continue to be heroic efforts by our firefighters and it's a testament to their courage, commitment and service to their communities and all Virginians."
How you can help
If you wish to help those impacted by the wildland fires, there are several ways to contribute. Crews working to contain and extinguish these fires come from the Luray, New Markey, Stanley and Shenandoah Fire Departments, all of which are made up of volunteers. They are asking for monetary donations for fuel to refill their fire engines and batteries for walkie-talkies. You can donate here:
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