VIRGINIA, USA — Shenandoah National Park has implemented a fire ban, amid a guberantorial state of emergency declared in two Virginia counties.
According to Park officials, this ban is due to dry conditions from unseasonably warm weather this year. People visiting the park are prohibited from building, attending, maintaining or using an open fire anywhere within the boundaries of the park.
This fire ban will include:
- All wood, charcoal, coal or other solid-fuel open air fires.
- Fires in grates, grills, rings or pits in campgrounds, picnic areas, shelters and huts.
- Wood, charcoal, coal, or other solid-fuel fires are always prohibited in Shenandoah’s backcountry. This ban extends the prohibition of open fires to picnic areas, campgrounds, and other areas where fires are usually permitted.
Firefighters from multiple districts have been working to extinguish two wildfires on the park’s eastern boundary. On Tuesday morning, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency in Madison County for the Quaker Run fire and in Patrick County where the Tuggle Gap fire has been blazing since over the weekend. As of Tuesday, 670 acres of land have been scorched by these fires.
“This executive order will ensure that the Commonwealth has additional resources and is using every tool at its disposal to keep Virginians safe,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “Thank you to our first responders who are doing everything they can to help contain these wildfires in the Commonwealth during this year’s fall fire season.”
For those camping or lodging on the premises, the use of camp stoves or backpacking stoves are still allowed. It is important to note that all streams and rivers are closed to fishing due to drought conditions.
On Wednesday, Shenandoah National Park also closed the Rapidan Camo area and several trails leading to it near the eastern boundary of the park, due to the ongoing Quaker Run Fire. The trails closed include:
- Mill Prong Trail
- Mill Prong Horse Trail
- Stony Mountain Trail
- Fork Mountain Trail
- Laurel Prong from Cat Knob intersection
- Upper Dark Hollow Trail (does NOT impact access to falls)
- The lower Rapidan Fire Road beyond the portion open to bicycles
These bans will remain in effect until conditions improve with significant rain or snow over time.
Shenandoah National Park is known for its 500 miles of trails, panoramic views, waterfalls, and campgrounds. As of August, the park has reported 1.4 million visitors this year.
READ NEXT: