The Shadow
Big Level Fire Stats
Total Acres: 1,900.
Total Personnel: 68
Contained: 10%
Incident Management – The incident is being managed by a local US Forest Service Type 3 team.
Weather Outlook – Rain is expected to move into the region today and remain through Wednesday. Up to 2 inches is forecast with the possibility of snow on Wednesday. Winds will also moderate.
Operations – Yesterday, firefighters from the US Forest Service, Virginia Dept of Forestry, and the Stuarts Draft Volunteer Fire Company worked to protect private property along the Coal Road and scout control features to the north, south, and east of the fire footprint. A Type 1 helicopter assisted in these efforts, dropping 49,900 gallons of water throughout the day. High winds drove fire growth with much of the activity on the western side.
Today crews will improve containment features along the coal road and the Bald Mountain Jeep Trail. Engines will be actively patrolling, and aviation support will be on call as weather allows. Today, rain is expected to moderate fire behavior.
Additional resources will also continue to arrive today to include: 1 Type 3 helicopter, and 2 Type 2 Initial Attack Hands Crews.
Safety – Closures have been implemented in the fire area (see below). We ask the public to heed these closures and allow firefighters to go about their work unimpeded. Also, with fire aviation operating in the area the use of personal drones presents a hazard to aircrews. Please understand, “If you fly, we can’t.”
Closures –The following areas are temporarily closed to all public use due to the Big Levels Fire to allow for public and firefighter safety (CFR 261.53, 261.54 & 261.55):
• Cold Springs Trail (FT# 524)
• Cellar Mountain Trail (FT#587)
• Bald Mountain Jeep Trail (FSR#162)
• Bald Mountain Spur Road (FSR#162A)
• Saint Mary’s Trail (FT#500)
• Saint Mary’s Gorge Trail (FT#500B)
• The national forest system lands north of the Saint Mary’s Trail (#500) and within the area bounded by the Bald Mountain Jeep Trail (FSR#162) and the Coal Road (FSR#42) are also CLOSED.
Evacuations – There are no evacuation orders at this time.
Facebook: USDA Forest Service – George Washington-Jefferson National Forest
Homepage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/gwj
Phone: 540-291-2188
Email: Mailroom_R8_George_Washington_Jefferson@usda.gov
