LURAY, Va. — As multiple fires in Page County continue to spread, including the popular Shenandoah National Park, residents are stepping up to help prevent flames from growing.
As of Thursday afternoon, more than 450 acres burned at the park with only 10% contained, according to the National Park Service. If you add the other fires outside the park, that’s more than 3,400 acres burned, according to the Virginia Department of Forestry.
Multiple roads and trails have been closed as five major active fires remain amid windy conditions. However, it’s the smaller fires that continue to pop up that’s elevating concerns.
“We don't have any words,” Page County resident Brittany Montgomery told WUSA9. “We're not being able to process it because it just keeps on. There are little fires everywhere.”
Montgomery said her family cabin, the first Airbnb in the area, burned down. Page County Fire and EMS said while the exact count is unclear, anywhere between 10 and 20 structures were destroyed.
The county, which remains under a local state of emergency, closed schools for Friday.
There were voluntary evacuations but as of Thursday, deputies were going up to homes to help residents leave, according to a Page County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.
The VDOF has been coordinating helicopters and airplane tanker operations to assist with airdrops of water onto the fire.
Residents including Nina Fox, who grew up in the county, describe never seeing the spread of such multiple fires. The fire stopped just 60 yards from her home.
“The wind was really bad,” Fox told WUSA9. “Really the last 24 hours is when things just really went kind of chaotic. I'm a little nervous. It’s very alarming. We have three girls and pets.”
Fox is planning to stay elsewhere as air quality continues to diminish. Meanwhile, she appreciates the random residents checking up on hot spots to prevent flames from spreading, which includes Cory Winslow. All day you can see residents cutting down trees, raking the ground, and putting out smoldering pieces.
Fox and Winslow agree how because of the small community, county resources are limited.
“We have to do our own thing,” Winslow said. I mean there's no one else to protect these properties.”
“We have limited resources but what we lack financially, we make up for in dividends in people,” Fox said.
VDOF said across the commonwealth, more than 100 fires sparked and burned at least 7,000 acres as of Thursday morning.
There are no reported injuries.