Crews work to put out flames in Shenandoah National Park
PAGE COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — A Local State of Emergency remained in effect in Page County Thursday, a day after officials declared it, due to wildfires throughout Shenandoah National Park.
The Shenandoah County Department of Fire and Rescue said in a news release that several fires in the area still were burning.
Two large fires — one near Basye and one northwest of Strasburg — were considered contained as of Thursday morning, fire officials said.
Shenandoah County fire officials said that fire destroyed five homes in the Coal Mine Road area. They noted that the number of homes lost may change as crews surveyed the area.
(Mariel Carbone/DC News Now) (Mariel Carbone/DC News Now) (Mariel Carbone/DC News Now)
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In a post on Facebook Wednesday evening, Page County Fire and EMS said that some people had to evacuate their homes because of the wildfires.
The Waterfall Mountain Complex on the evening of Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (Image courtesy of Peter Forister Photography) (Image courtesy of Shenandoah National Park) South end of the Waterfall Mountain Complex on the evening of Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (Image courtesy of Peter Forister Photography) Fire in the Shenandoah Forest neighborhood of Egypt Bend Estates on the evening of Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (Image courtesy of Peter Forister Photography) (Image courtesy of Shenandoah National Park) Plume of smoke above the Waterfall Mountain complex just before sunset on March 20, 2024. (Image courtesy of Peter Forister Photography) Smoke from fires in Shenandoah National Park. (Randi Bass/DC News Now)
The American Red Cross and Page County Department of Social Services opened a shelter at Luray High School, but in an update after 2 p.m. on Thursday, Page County Fire and EMS said that the shelter would be demobilizing at 5 p.m. Officials said that at that time, nobody was sheltered at the high school.
Anyone near the Coal Mine Road area who had to evacuate were able to return to unaffected homes as of Thursday, Shenandoah County officials said.
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The Luray Fire Department (LFD) posted on Facebook on Thursday at 10:55 a.m., saying that a tanker at Luray Caverns Airport was filling a plane with water to drop on the fire.
LFD said that ground crews would help the plane, which can carry up to 450 gallons of water. prioritize drop zones. There would be low-flying aircraft throughout the affected area on Thursday.
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Shenandoah County Department of Fire and Rescue said that crews were concentrating their efforts “near the New Market Gap on Massanutten Mountain,” which is between Page and Shenandoah counties. The fire started moving west into Shenandoah County.
“Weather conditions have improved over yesterday with lower winds forecasted which will facilitate firefighting activity, however, humidity levels remain low. Residents should remain vigilant to wildfire,” the news release said.
Both lanes on U.S. 211 were closed to through traffic.
The Shenandoah County Department of Fire and Rescue originally put out a request for supply and monetary donations. In a Facebook post just before 2:20 p.m., officials said that they received all the supplies they needed.
Officials said that if anyone wanted to donate money, they should contact Stacy McFarland with the American Red Cross at 681-247-9472 or find more information online.
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