Discussion and live audio of Warren County Fire and Rescue radio traffic available on MyFrontRoyal.com.

By Dan McDermott
Warren County Report

A version of this story appears on The Huffington Post.

SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK — Approximately 70 federal, state and local firefighters are currently on the ground battling a wildfire that has spread to 2,000 acres of Shenandoah National Park, causing the closing of the northern portion of the popular and normally scenic Skyline Drive.

60 more firefighters are en route to the park, according to spokesperson Karen Beck-Herzog.

Beck-Herzog said the fire started on private land in Warren County, just to the west of the park. It was first reported to park officials at 10 am Saturday. No cause has been determined.

The fire grew rapidly overnight due to high winds and is now moving on the surface of the forest floor feeding on hardwood leaf litter and down trees, she said.

Beck-Herzog said the fire is located near Jenkins Gap near Milepost 12 on Skyline Drive.

Warren County officials said Saturday that a second large fire near Linden had been largely contained but not before claiming two homes and causing residents to flee to evacuation shelters set up in a community center and nearby Skyline High School.

Discussion and live audio of Warren County Fire and Rescue radio traffic available on MyFrontRoyal.com.

Dan McDermott: editor@warrencountyreport.com

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