AFTON (WINA) – Shenandoah National Park says the fire atop Afton Mountain has closed a portion of Skyline Drive, and some firefighters have been moved to this one from Madison County. The park’s Claire Comer says what is now called the Royal Orchard fire is at 20 acres, and has closed Skyline Drive from Rockfish to the Loft Mountain area. The Appalachian Trail is also closed from Rockfish to Jarman Gap… which is mile 96.8.

The fire is being fought by two divisions… one portion by National Park Service firefighters, and the other by state forestry firefighters. Some were fighting the now fully-contained Quaker Run blaze. Now their working to finish a containtment line started last night on Afton withe the most difficult are on the slope leading down to I-64 where the fire originated.