Current:Home > InvestWest Virginia wildfires: National Guard and rain help to battle blazes, see map of fires-LoTradeCoin
West Virginia wildfires: National Guard and rain help to battle blazes, see map of fires
View Date:2024-12-23 16:32:11
Much needed rain enters the forecast in West Virginia after the state has been battling uncontrollable wildfires since Wednesday.
The West Virginia Emergency Management Division posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the state is receiving rainfall after days of poor air quality and outbursts of wildfires across the state.
The organization thanked the first responder that have been helping with the containment of the fires and hopes that the rain will give them a, "day of rest."
On Friday, the West Virginia National Guard sent two helicopters on a trip to douse the wildfires in Hardy County. During the rip, the National Guard was able to complete 143 Bambi Bucket sorties, which was roughly 95,000 gallons of water, according to an X post by the WV National Guard.
Virginia wildfire map:See where fires are blazing as some areas deal with road closures
Wildfires broke out in Virginia, West Virginia and parts of Maryland
Wildfires broke out in northern and northwestern Virginia Wednesday.
The NWS office in Blacksburg issued a special weather statement at 6:30 a.m. ET Thursday that urged residents in parts of Virginia and West Virginia to exercise caution handling any potential ignition source.
"Despite diminishing winds, the combination of low relative humidity values between 15 to 20 percent, northwest to northerly winds of 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph, and dry fuels will again result in an increased fire danger for portions of southwest Virginia and southeast West Virginia," the statement reads.
The NWS office that serves Baltimore and Washington, D.C. issued an elevated fire danger on Thursday for portions of Maryland, Virginia and eastern West Virginia.
Shenandoah National Park posted notices Wednesday regarding road closures, trail closures and a fire ban due to the conditions. A large portion of Skyline Drive was closed, and the park had temporarily banned the building, attending, maintaining or using of an open fire anywhere within the boundaries of the park.
National tv personality has personal connection, sends 'thank you' to volunteer firefighters
During the show "CBS Mornings" on Friday, anchor Tony Dokoupil took a moment to thank volunteer firefighters across the country, but especially those who are fighting the wildfires in West Virginia.
"A big thank you to volunteer firefighters all over the country and in particular in West Virginia, Paw Paw, West Virginia, Hampshire County. My mom has lived there for 25 years," Dokoupil on CBS Mornings.
Dokoupil shared that his mother, who is living at their family home Dokoupil and his step father built when he was younger, was in the middle of a fire that broke out at her neighbor's home.
"I got a call from my mom on Thursday, hysterical out of her mind scared, I've never heard my mom like that. And it's because this farmhouse, all those memories were threatened by terrible wildfires in this part of West Virginia," Dokoupil said.
"The governor declared a state of emergency this is less than a mile from her house she was not sure if she was gonna keep that home," Dokoupil said.
Dokoupil said that three of his mom's neighbors lost their homes to the wildfires.
Virginia wildfire map
US wildfire, smoke map
Contributing: Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY
Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X @forbesfineest.
veryGood! (28548)
Related
- Over 1.4 million Honda, Acura vehicles subject of US probe over potential engine failure
- How New York Is Building the Renewable Energy Grid of the Future
- Trump Plan Would Open Huge Area of Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve to Drilling
- Vanderpump Rules Reunion Pt. 2 Has More Scandoval Bombshells & a Delivery for Scheana Shay
- New wildfires burn in US Northeast while bigger blazes rage out West
- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signs law to protect doctors providing out-of-state telehealth abortion pill prescriptions
- MrBeast's Chris Tyson Shares Selfie Celebrating Pride Month After Starting Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Supercritical CO2: The Most Important Climate Solution You’ve Never Heard Of
- World leaders aim to shape Earth's future at COP29 climate change summit
- Supreme Court sets higher bar for prosecuting threats under First Amendment
Ranking
- Arizona Supreme Court declines emergency request to extend ballot ‘curing’ deadline
- U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Block Exxon Climate Fraud Investigation
- 17 Vacation Must-Haves Under $50 From UnSun Cosmetics, Sunnylife, Viski & More
- Trump Plan Would Open Huge Area of Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve to Drilling
- Olivia Munn began randomly drug testing John Mulaney during her first pregnancy
- Turning Food Into Fuel While Families Go Hungry
- In Florence’s Floodwater: Sewage, Coal Ash and Hog Waste Lagoon Spills
- Was a Federal Scientist’s Dismissal an 11th-hour Bid to Give Climate Denial Long-Term Legitimacy?
Recommendation
-
Round 2 in the Trump-vs-Mexico matchup looks ominous for Mexico
-
Dispute over seats in Albuquerque movie theater leads to deadly shooting, fleeing filmgoers
-
Vanderpump Rules Reunion Pt. 2 Has More Scandoval Bombshells & a Delivery for Scheana Shay
-
As Scientists Struggle with Rollbacks, Stay At Home Orders and Funding Cuts, Citizens Fill the Gap
-
Advocacy group sues Tennessee over racial requirements for medical boards
-
Delaware State Sen. Sarah McBride launches bid to become first openly trans member of Congress
-
Convicted double murderer Joseph Zieler elbows his attorney in face — then is sentenced to death in Florida
-
Small businesses got more than $200 billion in potentially fraudulent COVID loans, report finds