Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has declared a state of emergency in response to two wildfires that have broken containment lines and are raging amid dry conditions and high winds. The declaration allows the state to mobilize additional resources, staff, and equipment to aid in the response efforts. The operation is being carried out with the involvement of the Virginia National Guard, the Department of Forestry, the Department of Emergency Management, and other agencies.
The Quaker Run Fire in Madison County and the Tuggles Gap fire in Patrick County, both of which have broken containment lines, require additional resources in order to be contained and to respond to any new fires. Virginia’s fall fire season runs until the end of November, and officials are facing ongoing challenges due to drought conditions. These wildfires are not isolated incidents, as a state of emergency has also been declared in a western North Carolina community grappling with a wildfire that has threatened homes. Moreover, multiple blazes in forested areas of Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky are being fought as these states experience moderate to severe drought conditions and warmer than normal temperatures.
