UNDATED (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Fires in Albemarle, Louisa, Madison, Rockingham, Page, and Shenandoah Counties have led to multiple states of emergency, evacuation orders and road closures in Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley.

Albemarle County Fire Rescue has provided an update, revealing that local crews were dispatched to approximately 26 fire-related calls for service between 1 – 8 p.m. on March 20.

Courtesy Albemarle County Fire Rescue

Three major fires that crews had responded to throughout the day, and were still monitoring as of 11pm, according to Albemarle County Fire Rescue:

  • Blackberry Hill Farm: Over 20 acres affected, fire extinguished with the Department of Forestry remaining on the scene overnight.
  • Piney Mountain Road: Over 100 acres burned, currently 75% contained. Several evacuations were conducted, and all individuals are safe.
  • Taylors Gap Road: Over 200 acres impacted, currently 25% contained. Evacuation orders were issued and later lifted, although portions of Taylors Gap Road remain closed.

 

Courtesy of Albemarle County Fire Rescue

In addition to Albemarle County, Louisa County has implemented evacuation orders, leading to the opening of an emergency shelter at Louisa County Middle School.

Given the evolving nature of the situation, residents are urged to stay informed through official county resources and adhere to evacuation orders issued by authorities for their safety.

This is a fluid situation with individual counties’ online resources found in the links below.

Albemarle County

https://www.facebook.com/Albemarle.County

Louisa County Sheriff’s Office

https://www.facebook.com/louisasheriff

Madison County

https://www.madisonco.virginia.gov/268/Sheriff

Shenandoah County

https://www.facebook.com/shencosheriff

Page County

https://www.pagecounty.virginia.gov/