The Steep Valley Fire was burning in the backcountry of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve/NPS

Crews battling a wildfire burning in the backcountry of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia had to contend with steep terrain, abandoned mine shafts, and coal seams.

The Steep Valley Fire was spotted Monday afternoon about a mile south of Prince, West Virginia, and across the river from Grandview. Since then it has grown to more than 1,500 acres, but a favorable weather forecast had fire bosses optimistic that fire behavior should calm down over the next 24-72 hours as humidity rises and the chance of rain increases, the daily fire report noted Friday morning.

Fire danger has been high across the mid-Atlantic states, with fire bans or restrictions in place at the Blue Ridge Parkway, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Obed Wild and Scenic River, and Shenandoah National Park.

At New River Gorge, 37 firefights were working to gouge fire lines around the Steep Valley Fire. Containment lines covered just 11 percent of the blaze's footprint Friday morning.

"It continues to burn in the War Ridge and Backus Mountain areas and remains within the park boundaries as it exhibits flanking and backing behavior," a post on the park's social media pages said.