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UPDATED: Wildfire At Shenandoah National Park Nearly 8,000 Acres

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Published Date

April 21, 2016

The Rocky Mtn Fire in Shenandoah National Park covered an almost 8,000 Thursday evening/Google Maps

A long day of fighting a wildfire in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia left the acreage covered by the flames at nearly 8,000 acres, a 2,400-acre increase from the morning's estimated, although containment lines had been scratched and bulldozed around 40 percent of the perimeter, according to fire bosses.

According to the Inciweb website, part of the Interagency Incident Information System, gusting winds were pushing the flames. Acreage covered by the wildfire, which was spotted last Saturday, was estimated at 7,935 acres.

Earlier Thursday, the a release from the incident command team said that firefighters had been able to complete or improve "several dozer lines ... along the western side of the fire to tie together existing terrain features to improve containment."

Nicknamed the Rocky Mtn Fire, the blaze is burning in mountain laurel, pine, and oak forests with heavier than average leaf litter and duff. 

Due to smoke and firefighting efforts, a short section of Skyline Drive, from Swift Run, mile 65, to Loft Mountain, mile 79, is closed to travel. Also closed was the Appalachian National Scenic Trail from Doyles River Overlook (mile 82) to Powell Gap (mile 70). Other trails closed due to the fire include:

* Rocky Mount Trail

* Gap Run Trail

* Onemile Run Trail

* Brown Mountain Trail

* Big Run Portal Trail

* Rocky Mountain Run Trail

* Rockytop Trail

* Big Run Loop

* Austin Mountain Trail

* Lewis Peak Trail

* Patterson Ridge Trail

* Madison Run Spur

Roughly 270 firefighters were battling the blaze, and they were receiving support from four helicopters, seven fire engines, and two single-wing air tankers.

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