Firefighters spent a third day battling the wildfire on Cacapon Mountain in Morgan County on Wednesday, and officials say the blaze near Cacapon Resort State Park was still active as crews worked to cut fire lines and keep it from spreading further.
The fire, now being called the Kessel Fire, remained active as of an 8 a.m. briefing Wednesday, according to Morgan County Emergency Communications Director Marshall Younker. Crews expected to keep working throughout the day, and heavy smoke was still visible across the area.
More Help On The Way
West Virginia Division of Forestry crews stayed on the mountain, and additional forestry personnel from Pennsylvania were headed in to help. A West Virginia National Guard helicopter out of Wheeling was expected to arrive late Wednesday morning to give crews support from the air.
The fire started Monday evening and grew to roughly 10 acres by Tuesday after it jumped containment lines, burning on both sides of the ridge above the Rock Gap area to the east and the Kessel area to the west. Fire and EMS units from across Morgan County, plus mutual aid from Berkeley and Jefferson counties and from neighboring Maryland counties, have responded since it began. We first reported on the fire here.
Dead Timber Makes A Tough Job Harder
Crews are dealing with a lot of fuel on the forest floor. Many standing trees on the mountain were killed by the emerald ash borer, and fallen trees and built-up leaves and brush give the fire plenty to burn. Some standing trees were still burning, and trees weakened by fire can come down without warning, so crews have to check and clear them before working in an area.
Forestry officials were also weighing a possible backburn, also called a burnout. That is when firefighters intentionally burn the strip of vegetation between a fire line and the oncoming wildfire, so the main fire runs out of fuel when it gets there. If it happens, folks nearby may see more smoke and flames for a while, and that is part of the plan.
Park Closures And A Request To Stay Away
Parts of Cacapon Resort State Park remain closed, including the Overlook Trail north of the Batt Picnic Shelter and the Upper Lake. Visitors are asked to stay south of the Batt Shelter so emergency crews can get through.
Officials are urging residents and visitors to keep away from the fire area entirely. Chainsaw work, falling trees, helicopter operations and shifting fire behavior make it dangerous, and they are specifically asking people not to drive in to watch the firefighting or take photos.
As of Tuesday, officials reported no evacuation plans and no threat to structures. We will keep following the Kessel Fire and share updates as crews make progress. Please keep those firefighters in your thoughts, and if you are near Berkeley Springs, give them room to work.