Local News

Battling a Wildfire

‘Woodside Fire’ has consumed 385 acres

CHERRY GROVE --The Monongahela National Forest "Woodside Fire" has consumed more than 350 acres and is at 75 percent containment, the USDA Forest Service announced Monday morning.

The Forest Service announced that 385 acres has been consumed by the fire in Pendleton County; however, containment of the fire had increased from 30 percent on Friday to 75 percent by Monday morning.

"Firefighters continued to make progress yesterday, increasing containment of the Woodside Fire to 75 percent," the Monday Forest Service statement reads. "Crews took advantage of precipitation that significantly moderated fire behavior to build additional handline and dozer lines along the fire's perimeter. The safety of firefighters and the public are the top priorities."

In a Sunday update, the Forest Service stated that aircraft support was not needed on Saturday, but was still readily available, and that approximately 80 personnel had been assigned to the incident. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Though the fire activity has decreased, the Forest Service stated that smoke may still be visible in Circleville, Cherry Grove, Big Mountain, Thornwood and the surrounding communities.

"Despite the anticipated precipitation and cold temperatures today, firefighters will continue to monitor the fire to be sure all containment lines are holding," the Forest Service said Monday. "Given the significant effort over the weekend and expected weather, there is a very low probability of fire spreading today. Crews will continue to patrol and extinguish any remaining hotspots as road and trail conditions allow for safe access, and will begin rehabilitating the land following wildfire suppression efforts."

The Forest Service added that, on Tuesday, the fire management team responsible for fighting the Woodside Fire will transfer command of the fire back to the local Forest Service and Division of Forestry offices.

"Incident commanders Jesse Holguin and Gabe Templeton would like to thank the Pendleton County Office of Emergency Management, local responders and the community for their support during this wildfire," the release states.

The Woodside Fire was reported on Nov. 5 after a private landowner detected smoke south of Circleville, the Forest Service said. The Pendleton County OEM stated on Nov. 5 that multiple local volunteer fire departments, along with some from Virginia, were on scene.

"Multiple fire crews at a wildfire in Southwest Pendleton County, near Cherry Grove," the Pendleton County OEM stated on social media on Nov. 5. "Battling extreme steep mountain terrain. Mostly on Monongahela National Forest. Numerous VFDs from Pendleton, Pocahontas and Highland Counties in (Virginia) and National Forest Fire crews are battling the fire in extreme winds on a Red Flag Day."

The Woodside Fire is located in the area of Vance Run, near Big Mountain and off WV State Route 28, close to the border with Highland County, Virginia. On Sunday, the Forest Service stated that the Vance Run Trail, near the Laurel Fork River, is closed "for the public's health and safety." Members of the public are asked to stay out of the area "for safety of themselves and firefighting resources."

The Forest Service asks that all West Virginia residents follow the state's burning season guidelines, which state that outdoor burning is prohibited during the hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Oct. 1 and ending Dec. 31.