Fire Ban in Dolly Sods Wilderness

PETERSBURG, West Virginia, November 1, 2016 — The Fire Ban in the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area is still in effect due to localized dry conditions and will remain in place until weather conditions improve. Although ground-fires are prohibited, gas powered backpacking/camping stoves are allowed in the wilderness area.
“We are now several weeks into our fall fire season, and although we have seen some small rain events over the past few weeks, ground conditions are still unusually dry in the area”, says Troy Waskey, Cheat Potomac District Ranger. Waskey adds, “Due to the added complexities of fighting wildfire in an area with unexploded ordinance, such as Dolly Sods, we want to limit the possibility of additional wildfires in this area as much as possible”. The fire ban is expected to remain in place until significant ground penetrating moisture has affected the area, which may not occur until the later this fall with the onset of snow.
Please do not allow the Dolly Sods Fire Ban deter you from visiting the Monongahela National Forest. Here are other wilderness and backcountry areas available for hiking and backpacking on the Forest. Campfires are allowed in established fire rings in these areas.
Big Draft Wilderness, Cranberry Wilderness, Canaan Mountain Backcountry, Laurel Fork Wilderness, Otter Creek Wilderness, Roaring Plains West, Seneca Creek Backcountry and Spice Run Wilderness.
For the latest information on the Dolly Sods Fire Ban, check the Monongahela Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/mnf/under Alerts & Warnings.