by Kate Shunney
West Virginia’s Division of Forestry is continuing to monitor the status of a mountain fire that has burned over 130 acres of forest on the western face of Cacapon Mountain.
On Monday afternoon, Regional Forester Rosey Santerre called the fire “100% contained” following extensive response from fire and wildfire units from around the quad-state region, helped along by several hours of rain.
“It’s still going to continue to smoke,” Santerre said, noting that many big trunks and stumps were still burning. She said foresters were “confident” that the blaze was under control.
The fire was first reported to Morgan County 911 on Saturday, December 7 at 12:40 p.m. by a caller across the river in Maryland, said emergency officials.
Fire units pinpointed the blaze and accessed the area by way of Quaint Acres Lane off of Cacapon Road.
On Saturday, Assistant Chief Junior Hook of Great Cacapon Volunteer Fire Company was in command of the scene.
Units from across Morgan County, the Eastern Panhandle, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia responded to calls for additional apparatus and manpower as the fire increased and began to burn up the side of Cacapon Mountain. 
The Division of Forestry watched the fire overnight on Saturday into Sunday, when winds fueled additional burning and moved the blaze further up the mountain and into the acreage of Cacapon State Park on top of Cacapon Mountain, said Santerre.
On Sunday, Chief James Steiner of Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Company was in command of fire units on the scene.
Santerre said the terrain made an attack on the fire more difficult.
“It’s pretty steep and rocky access,” she said.
“Shout out to the state parks and volunteer fire departments that assisted,” Santerre said.
The area that burned is primarily forested with mixed hardwoods and some pines, she confirmed. Fire lines created by firefighters, along with work to cut and remove fuel, contributed to getting the blaze contained.
As the fire moved, two structures were considered under threat, but none burned and there were no injuries during the fire response. The cause of the fire is under investigation, said Santerre.
“The fire will be in patrol status and crews will monitor it for a rekindle,” Santerre said on Monday afternoon.
Fire companies responded from Morgan County; Hampshire County; Mineral County; Washington County, Md.; Fulton County, Pa.; Allegany County, Md.; Frederick County, Va.; Frederick County, Md. and Berkeley County for transfer, plus Wildfire teams from the region, Cacapon State Park personnel and the Division of Forestry.
Santerre urges property owners to revisit Forestry burn laws and Firewise-WV at https://wvforestry.com/firewise-wv/ to learn tips how to protect homes located in woodlands.
