Eastern Fires Escalate
Dateline: 11-20-1999
Unseasonably warm and dry weather has prolonged the wildland fire season throughout the eastern states and especially in Appalachia. Dry weather and drying fuels are continuing to increase fire starts from Virginia to Georgia.Four fires in Georgia have burned over 5,300 acres on Forest Service and private lands. A thirteen mile section of the Appalachian Trail in the Chattahoochee National Forest was closed. A four mile section of the trail has also been closed in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
According to the USFS North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri, and Alabama are also experiencing late fire season activity. An estimated 70,000 acres have burned this week.
Hundreds of firefighters have arrived from as far away as California to assist with the fire situation. Lou Southard, a spokesman from Virginia's Department of Forestry says, "we've been moving resources from the eastern part of the state to the western part". Eastern Virginia is less vulnerable to fire because it got more rainfall from hurricanes this summer and fall.
West Virginia fires are still smoking from more than 15,000 acres of fire and is transforming timber workers to firefighters. Fire officials there say the blazes are started by a variety of causes to include arson and careless campfires. Winds moved into the region Friday and no rain was expected.
The Latest News:
Web of Fire Blankets Appalachia
2 Forest Fires in State Finally Out
Read This About.com Series:
Introduction
to Wildland Fire
Fire Behavior and Weather
Articles by Topic | Articles by Date
