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The Matts Creek fire was 100 percent contained Monday evening, over two weeks since the blaze was first reported on National Forest lands.
“As the sun sets on the Matts Creek fire and crews head in from the fire line, the Type 3 Incident Management Team is happy to report the fire is 100 percent contained and the Petite’s Gap Road has been opened,” according to the final fire update, posted Monday night.
“Command of the fire will be handed off at 6 p.m. this evening to a smaller Type 4 Incident Management Team, which will continue to conduct fire repair operations along the Glenwood Horse Trail from Gunter Ridge to Balcony Falls, and on the interior of the burned area.”
The fire burned 11,020 cares in the James River Face Wilderness and along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
damaged trees, and making repairs around the perimeter of the fire and on trails in the James River Face Wilderness.
Firefighters have been working on the fire since it was first spotted on Nov. 12, burning five miles southeast of Glasgow, in the Bedford County area of the James River Face Wilderness.
Local crews responded first, but handed over control to a federal incident management team by Nov. 17.
First reported at 15 acres, the fire had grown to 11,016 acres by last Tuesday, Nov. 21, with 380 firefighters and support staff working on it. They were helped by the weather, which brought 3.5 inches of rain across the fire area that day, and containment rose above 50% last Wednesday.
Crews have continued to work along the edges of the fire, as well as using drones to scan for hot spots in the interior that need to be addressed.
The James River Face Wilderness, including the burned area, was reopened to the public yesterday morning, though the Forest Service advises caution.
“Hikers reentering the burned area should take special care to steer clear of fire repair operations and to watch for fire-weakened trees and unstable, burned ground, especially in wet or windy areas.”
