SYRIA, Va. — In hills known for fiery fall colors, the smoke signals a serious blaze burning below the tree tops, the size of which people here say they've never seen.
"No, I don't think anyone has," said Lea Henshaw who lives in the area. "I think it's surprised everybody."
Known as the Quaker Run fire in Madison County, Virginia, this fire was first spotted about two weeks ago near the eastern boarder of the Shenandoah National Park.
"And then, like, every single day just kept getting worse and worse," said Henshaw who watched it top a ridge near town before firefighters were able to contain that line of the fire.
In just the past few days, forestry officials say the fire has jumped from around 700 acres to more than 3,700. Prompting the park to ban campfires, and close a popular campground and several trails.
Virginia's Governor has declared a state of emergency, sending more resources to fight largest fire this area has seen here in at least two decades.
"The last two days were critical days," said Gavin Helme the Emergency Management Coordinator for Madison County.
Forestry officials say so far, no buildings have been lost, and no one has been hurt. But the fire is less than 50% contained and burning on uneven and dangerous ground.
"It's very steep, It's very rocky. That makes not great footing for our firefighters as they're traversing this terrain," said Cory Swift with the Virginia Department of Forestry.
More than 200 firefighters are working to carve fire lines by hand in the mountainous terrain, said Swift. "Which is a physically challenging task," he said.
But firefighters do have help, volunteers from a grateful community are feeding them every day.
"We live in the area and we need to help," said Todd Steffens with Mountain View Chapel Church. "We're just getting them some food so they can keep going."
RELATED: VA Gov. Youngkin issues state of emergency in two counties, Shenandoah National Park issues fire ban
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