Rain helps contain wildfires in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, state to send more aid

RICHMOND, Va. — Crews who have been battling stillburning wildfires in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley this week have gotten an assist from rain and the state government, which has deployed new resources to the area, officials said Saturday.

“Without a doubt the rain is helping” said Cory Swift, a spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Forestry, who said the agency had no reports of injuries or fatalities connected with the fires, which sprang up mid-week amid gusty winds and low relative humidity.

The fires led to trail shutdowns in the Shenandoah National Park, a smattering of evacuation orders, school closures in at least one hard-hit county, and damage to structures, the full extent of which was not yet clear.

Containment increases had been reported as of Saturday on the fires that are part of the Luray Complex, which are burning on a mix of private and National Forest Service land in Page County, Swift said in a phone interview. The three larger fires that make up that complex range from 50 to 70% contained and are being managed by a joint command that includes the U.S. Forest Service, Virginia Department of Forestry and local agencies, according to Swift and an update from the agency posted on social media. One smaller 30-acre fire was 0% contained, the department said.

Progress was also being made — thanks in part to rain — to contain a separate blaze in the same area known as the Rocky Branch Fire, contained mostly within the Shenandoah National Park, according to an update the park shared on social media. Portions of trails and the scenic Skyline Drive have been closed this week due to the fire.