West Virginia/Dolly Sods Wilderness current fire closure alert

**Country Roads** · 09-22-2016, 17:05

http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mnf/al...ces/?aid=36692

There is currently a fire closure alert for pretty much all of the Lower Dolly Sods Wilderness (The Red Creek Fire), from Laneville to Breathed Mtn Trail. The above link will take you to the page on the MNF website for current updates.
If you have weekend plans for this area, you may want to skip them. Right now, the fire is still small, but with no rain in the immediate forecast, there may be further closures. The area is EXTREMELY dry! Many streams are dry, Red Creek itself is very low. Stay safe!

**Country Roads** · 09-26-2016, 16:03

Update on fire closure in Dolly Sods. There are currently 2 fires in the lower wilderness, both in the forest duff. One is mostly under control, but being monitored.
There is also a campfire ban in the entire Dolly Sods Wilderness, including the upper/northern area, the Red Creek Campground and the picnic area. No open fires, including charcoal grills are permitted at the current time. No wood-burning stoves. Regular backpacking stoves are permitted. It was not specified what kind of "backpacking" stoves.
We have received a VERY brief shower today, Sept. 26. This will probably not be sufficient for the forest service to lift the campfire ban. Once again, stay safe!

**HappyCamper** · 09-28-2016, 16:14

Thanks for the update, Pat. Much appreciated.

**Country Roads** · 10-01-2016, 18:24

The forest service is getting a handle on the fires. There were a total of 5. 2 are listed as "out"; 2 are listed as 100% contained, and they are concentrating efforts on the last one (hopefully, the rain has helped them out). The closure will continue until all fires are listed as out.

**Country Roads** · 10-07-2016, 15:45

Latest Dolly Sods closure update, as of October 6, 2016. The trail closure has been lifted; all Wilderness trails are now open. The fire ban is, however, still in effect. Gas-powered backpacking stoves are permitted in the wilderness. The fire ban has been lifted for the Red Creek Campground and the picnic area.