Current:Home > InvestNational Guard helicopters help battle West Virginia wildfires in steep terrain-LoTradeCoin
National Guard helicopters help battle West Virginia wildfires in steep terrain
View Date:2024-12-24 00:37:33
CHARLESTON (AP) — The West Virginia National Guard joined in battling wildfires Friday that have scorched more than 4,000 acres (1,619 hectares) in the state and destroyed several homes.
Two Blackhawk helicopters dropped water from buckets on the fires in steep, wooded terrain in Hardy County, the National Guard said on social media. The lightweight, flexible buckets hold up to 630 gallons (2,385 liters) of water.
The fires began earlier this week amid gusty winds and low relative humidity.
In Virginia, more than 100 fires popped up Wednesday, many of them in the central part of the state, forcing the closure of sections of Skyline Drive and the Appalachian Trail. A fire ban was put in place for all of Shenandoah National Park. Fires also were reported this week in neighboring Maryland.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice declared a state of emergency Thursday in the northeastern counties of Grant, Hampshire, Hardy and Pendleton, enabling state resources to be allocated and to expedite emergency response efforts.
“Our crews are some of the best in the nation and we will continue to support efforts to combat these fires until our partners with the Division of Forestry say the danger has passed,” National Guard Lt. Col. Todd Justice said in a statement. “We will do all we can to protect our fellow West Virginians and work to keep local responders safe.”
The statement said more equipment and National Guard personnel may be deployed if needed. Volunteer fire departments from across the state also have helped with the fires.
Hardy County, along the Virginia line less than a two hours’ drive from Washington, D.C., has about 14,000 residents, considerable poultry and other agricultural operations. It also offers tourists an array of river float trips and hiking and cycling trails.
Paul Lewis, Hardy County’s emergency management director, said there were three ongoing fires in the county, including one initially believed to be under control that had worsened near Wardensville. As many as four homes were destroyed in the county, along with an undetermined number of outbuildings, camps and hunting grounds.
“We’re not sure of the total number yet because some of those fires are still active in a couple of those areas,” Lewis said. “Most of these are in the mountains. There’s been a lot of smoke in the area today.”
West Virginia regulators issued an air quality advisory Friday in eight counties. The Division of Air Quality said that some sensitive groups could have breathing difficulties because of the fires, including children, elderly people and others suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases.
“We were hoping with the rain moving in later this evening that that will help us a great deal,” Lewis said.
veryGood! (62674)
Related
- The 10 Best Cashmere Sweaters and Tops That Feel Luxuriously Soft and Are *Most Importantly* Affordable
- Francia Raísa Shares Her Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Diagnosis
- Researchers create plastic alternative that's compostable in home and industrial settings
- Louis Cato, TV late night bandleader, offers ‘Reflections,’ a new album of ‘laid bare, honest’ songs
- Disney Store's Black Friday Sale Just Started: Save an Extra 20% When You Shop Early
- 4-year-old Michigan girl struck and run over by golf cart after fire department's dog lies down on vehicle's gas pedal
- Bop to the Top with These 16 Show-Stopping Gifts for the High School Musical Fan in Your Life
- Cha Cha Slide Creator DJ Casper Dead at 58 After Cancer Battle
- 'Bizarre:' Naked man arrested after found in crawl space of California woman's home
- Influencer Kai Cenat announced a giveaway in New York. Chaos ensued
Ranking
- What is best start in NBA history? Five teams ahead of Cavaliers' 13-0 record
- Federal judge says California’s capital city can’t clear homeless camps during extreme heat
- Cost of Missouri abortion-rights petition challenged in court again
- Australian police charge 19 men with child sex abuse after FBI tips about dark web sharing
- Ex-Phoenix Suns employee files racial discrimination, retaliation lawsuit against the team
- Inside Sandra Bullock and Bryan Randall's Private Love Story
- Belarus begins military drills near its border with Poland and Lithuania as tensions heighten
- Apple 24-Hour Flash Deal: Save $429 on a MacBook Air Laptop Bundle
Recommendation
-
What is ‘Doge’? Explaining the meme and cryptocurrency after Elon Musk's appointment to D.O.G.E.
-
Kate Spade 24-Hour Flash Deal: Get This $300 Tote Bag for Just $69
-
Nearly all teens on Idaho YMCA camp bus that crashed have been released to their families
-
Dillon County sheriff collapses and dies unexpectedly in his home
-
'Squid Game' creator lost '8 or 9' teeth making Season 1, explains Season 2 twist
-
Boston man files lawsuit seeking to bankrupt white supremacist group he says assaulted him
-
Proposed protective order would infringe on Trump's free speech, his lawyers say
-
Suspect in deadly Northern California stabbings declared mentally unfit for trial