Crews Work To Contain ‘Record’ Fire At Cacapon State Park

A large fire inside Cacapon State Park was first reported Monday afternoon by a commuter heading home. The location -- near the top of the ridge between Kessel Road on the west and Rock Gap on the east -- is so remote it took crews more than an hour to reach the site. 

Multiple units including the West Virginia Division of Forestry, the Pennsylvania Dept. Of Conservation and Natural Resources, a private contractor and local fire departments have been working to contain the blaze and fell the dead trees that are fueling it ever since. A National Guard helicopter is dropping water from above.  

“Their main focus is the containment lines and make sure they’re keeping it in the area that’s already burnt,” Morgan County Emergency Operations Director Marshall Younker said. “They do have some of the crew that are going back and falling the standing trees that are burning because of the embers that can blow, to get those on the ground.” 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) near the site, to a height of 4,000 feet, for aircraft and drones in the area.  

“This restriction is intended to prevent conflicts with low-flying firefighting aircraft and other aviation resources,” said the FAA notice. ” Helicopters and other aviation resources may be operating at low altitudes while supporting firefighters on the ground. An unauthorized aircraft or drone entering the restricted area can create a serious safety hazard.” 

Younker said the fire had burned through about 300 of the park’s 6,100 acres by Thursday, and 60% contained. 

“This will be the largest fire ever that there’s record of in Morgan County,” Younker said. “Normally a 50-acre brush fire is big for us. Over the last few years we’ve had a couple get close to 100 acres, but this is by far the largest. It’s the first time we’ve ever used the helicopters to drop water.” 

He said the fire is moving slowly, allowing wildlife time to evacuate on their own. There have been no evacuations of people or businesses, he said.  

There is no electricity in the area and lightning detection did not indicate a hit that may have started the fire. The cause is under investigation.