Sunday, July 1 Update:
Crews are beginning to contain a wildfire burning in the Shenandoah National Park in Page County.
The map (to the right) shows how the Neighbor Mountain Fire's spread since it was first reported Tuesday morning.
The blue area is where it started at about 14 acres. It's now out to the red ring - with 1,115 acres burning.
More than 150 firefighters are trying to build fire lines to contain the blaze. Right now, it's about 20 percent contained. There's no immediate threat to any buildings.
Firefighters from as far away as Florida and Massachusetts are battling a blaze in the Shenandoah National Park.
Those crews are working to build a fire line to contain the flames. The fire started early Tuesday morning on Neighbor Mountain in Page County.
As of Friday afternoon it had spread to an estimated 827 acres and is not contained. The National Park Service says the fire is not an immediate threat to any homes or buildings.
Neighbor Mountain Fire Incident Update
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Overview: Fire was first reported on June 26, 2012 at approximately 6:40 a.m. on Neighbor Mountain in Shenandoah National Park in Page County.
Size: Estimated at 1115 acres as of 3:00 p.m. 6/30/12 and entirely within the boundaries of Shenandoah National Park.
Containment: 20% at 3:00 p.m. 6/30/12. No estimated date of containment.
Fire Conditions: The fire is burning in steep, rocky terrain. The forest is a mix of hardwoods, mountain laurel, blueberry and leaf litter.
Today's Strategy: Crews will continue to build and strengthen lines with direct attack as conditions permit.
Current Resources: The Southern Area Red Team, as a Type 2 incident management team has established a unified command with the Virginia Dept. of Forestry to manage the fire. Resources assigned to the fire include personnel from the National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia Department of Forestry, and Mississippi Forestry Commission. There are approximately 150 firefighters on the line.
Threats: No immediate threats to structures.
Fire Closures:
The following trails are closed: Appalachian Trail between Elkwallow and Beahms Gap, Knob Mountain Cutoff, Knob Mountain, Neighbor Mountain, Jeremys Run. Byrd's Nest #4 Shelter. Visitors facilities, Skyline Drive and local highways and amenities are not affected.
Photo courtesy the National Park Service
