More than 100 wildfires in Virginia, West Virginia, the District and Maryland brought a smoky haze into the D.C. region Wednesday evening, and the fire threat lingered into Thursday because of a combination of strong winds and low humidity.
While most of the fires within a two-county radius of the District were contained by Thursday, many continued to rage in central and western Virginia and eastern West Virginia, where they were largest and most numerous.
The arid and gusty conditions conducive to fires were most severe on Wednesday before red-flag warnings for dangerous fire weather were discontinued that night. But it was dry and windy enough Thursday that the National Weather Service said fires could still spread with ease.
"Residents and visitors are urged to exercise caution if handling open flames or equipment that creates sparks," the Weather Service said. "Also, dispose of cigarette butts, matches, and other flammable items in appropriate containers. Keep vehicles off of dry grass and obey local burn bans. Most dry grasses, dead leaves, and other tree litter could easily ignite and spread fire quickly."
A heavy rainstorm predicted for Friday night into Saturday was expected to end the fire threat and extinguish most active blazes.
The smoke streaming over the Washington region Wednesday from the west caused the air quality to shift from good (code green) to moderate (code yellow). But as winds came from more of a northerly direction by Thursday morning, the smoke dispersed and good air quality returned.
In the Washington region, authorities worked Wednesday evening to extinguish fires in Fairfax, Montgomery, Howard and Prince William counties as well as the District.
In an email Thursday, Virginia Department of Forestry spokesperson Cory Swift-Turner said firefighters had responded to more than 100 wildfires that had burned more than 7,500 acres within the last 48 hours. Crews were working to contain "several large wildfires" in central Virginia, according to Swift-Turner.
"Do not start fires (even after 4 p.m.) until your area receives a soaking rainfall," Swift-Turner said.
On Wednesday, Fairfax County fire officials reported that crews were working on "six outside fires" and that dispatchers fielded calls for reports of smoke blown into the county by high winds from fires burning in nearby jurisdictions. About 65 Montgomery County firefighters knocked down a brush fire in the Boyds area, and other crews responded to fires in the Poolesville and Clarksburg areas, county fire and EMS spokesman Pete Piringer said.
Prince William County firefighters were dispatched Wednesday to 39 outside and brush fires beginning about noon, including large fires in the 4700 block of Locust Shade Drive and near Richmond Highway and Russell Road, where northbound traffic was blocked. No injuries or structural damage were immediately reported, county fire officials said.
A brush fire in Columbia was brought under control by Howard County firefighters in the 7500 block of Grace Drive after 5 p.m., officials said Wednesday.
In Rock Creek Park in Northwest Washington, D.C. Fire and EMS responded to a fire on about three acres in the vicinity of Carter Barron Amphitheatre, the agency said Wednesday on X. It said "most visible fire" was extinguished, and no structures were threatened. The agency cautioned against using barbecues until conditions had improved.
In central and western Virginia, officials on Wednesday declared emergencies and asked residents to evacuate in Louisa and Page counties, according to emergency statements released by officials in those jurisdictions. No immediate information could be learned about injuries or property damage.
The National Park Service implemented a total fire ban in Shenandoah National Park and closed the portion of Skyline Drive from Thornton Gap to the Matthews Arm campground.
On Thursday, National Park Service spokesperson Carly Adams said park visitors would be greeted with smoky air due in part to the Rocky Branch Fire, which was burning on 450 acres and 10 percent contained as of 8 a.m.
"We just want folks to be aware," she said. "There will be smoke and they should take breaks and assess ability to hike in the smoke."
Winds gusted to 40 to 60 mph along and west of the Interstate 81 corridor on Wednesday, toppling trees and power lines. Front Royal clocked a gust of 61 mph. Closer to the Beltway, gusts reached 35 to 45 mph.
Nearly 30,000 customers were without power in Virginia because of the high winds on Wednesday evening; that number dropped to under 4,000 by Thursday evening.
Wednesday's strong winds that fanned the firestorms were a result of a difference in pressure between a storm in eastern Canada and a zone of high pressure sinking southward from Canada into the central United States.
As the winds between these pressure systems whipped over the Appalachian Mountains from the west, they intensified while rushing down the eastern slopes through a process known as "downsloping." And while descending from higher elevations, the air also warmed and dried out. Many firestorms, such as the disaster in Maui in August, have been fanned by downsloping winds.
March and April are two of the more common months for elevated fire risks in the Mid-Atlantic. The fall can also present these risks, especially after dry summers.
Fire threats are common in March because it is the windiest month of the year, followed closely by April. As a transition season, the spring sees the frequent passage of fronts, which are accompanied by changes in air temperature and pressure that stir up the wind.
Before the green-up of plants and trees, moisture also tends to be limited. A lack of leaves in March both reduces evapotranspiration, a process in which plants release moisture into the atmosphere, and leads to the exposure of dry fuels.
This article was downloaded by calibre from https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/03/20/smoke-fire-virginia-maryland-montgomery-prince-william-howard/
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