Fire ban in effect in Dolly Sods Wilderness

ELKINS, W.Va. (WBOY) — Amid ongoing drought conditions and increased fire danger , the Monongalia National Forest has issued more fire restrictions at Dolly Sods.

Dolly Sods is one of seven wilderness areas in the Mon Forest that have additional restrictions for conservation reasons. It is among the oldest and most famous wilderness areas in the state.

According to a press release, the fire restriction completely prohibits “building, maintaining, attending, or using a wood or charcoal fire or campfire” within the wilderness area, which includes parts of Randolph, Grant and Tucker counties. Normally, campfires in wilderness areas are discouraged and are only allowed in existing fire rings.

Because of prolonged drought, the release says that “any fire starting in the wilderness would prove difficult to suppress.” The wilderness restrictions also make it more difficult to fight fires in the area.

Dolly Sods is also an “unexploded ordinance area,” meaning there is a risk of explosive weapons that did not explode when they were employed detonating during the firefighting process.

Most of the Monongahela National Forest is under the “extreme drought” category (D3) , but as of last week, Dolly Sods was under the “severe drought” category (D2), which is slightly less severe.

U.S. Forest Service officials have already said that the prolonged drought may prevent some areas of the Monongahela National Forest from experiencing the bright fall colors that it is famous for .

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