Shenandoah Wildfire Chars 3,000 Acres, Shuts 12 Trails, Skyline Drive

"Shenandoah National Park is on fire and the blaze is growing. The National Park Service said that 3,000 acres have been charred since the fire started on Saturday. Officials don’t know what sparked the fire, but they think it was likely human-caused.

The smoke from the confusingly-named “Rocky Mount” fire could be seen on visible satellite imagery on Monday afternoon. Photos show orange-brown smoke wafting above the park and the hillsides glowing orange at night.

Skyline Drive is closed between mile 65 around Swift Run Gap and mile 79, Loft Mountain. Four miles of the Appalachian Trail are closed due to the fire, and 12 other Shenandoah trails have been closed indefinitely."

Angela Fritz reports for the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang April 19, 2016.