Virginia Governor Declares State of Emergency as Wildfires Spread in Shenandoah National Park and Across State Amid Drought Conditions

Two major wildfires, Quaker Run Fire and Tuggles Gap Fire, breach containment lines amid dry conditions and high winds, burning thousands of acres and prompting evacuation notices around Virginia's Shenandoah National Park.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency as wildfires, including the Quaker Run Fire and Tuggles Gap Fire, spread across Shenandoah National Park and other areas, amid currently severe drought conditions.
The Quaker Run Fire has spread across 2,800 acres, with approximately 670 acres within Shenandoah National Park. Meanwhile, the Tuggles Gap Fire broke its containment lines and continues to pose a threat to public safety.
The state of emergency permits the deployment of additional resources, including the Virginia National Guard, in the fight against the wildfires. Despite it being normal fall fire season, underlying drought conditions have made containment of the fires more challenging.
Experts attribute the increasing prevalence of destructive wildfires to climate change, which has caused unusually dry conditions. These conditions result in more dry fuel on the ground, thus causing wildfires to ignite more easily and spread more rapidly.
In an effort to protect public safety, certain regions within Shenandoah National Park have been closed to the public, and several evacuation notices have been issued. Despite the growing fires, no injuries have been reported nor have any structures been damaged.