Pendleton County Tactical Skills Team

02/19/2026

Pendleton Co. Officials warn about dangers of hiking in unmaintained areas

Emergency Services Coordinator, Rick Gillespie, said snow across trails and unplowed areas isn’t going away anytime soon.

02/14/2026

11/05/2025

Red Flag Warning issued November 5 at 6:59AM EST until November 5 at 6:00PM EST by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC

Augusta; Rockingham; Shenandoah; Frederick; Page; Warren; Clarke; Eastern Highland; Northern Virginia Blue Ridge; Central Virginia Blue Ridge; Hampshire; Morgan; Berkeley; Jefferson; Hardy; Eastern Grant; Eastern Mineral; Eastern Pendleton

* TIMING...From 11 AM this morning to 6 PM EST this evening.

* WINDS...Southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 40 mph for most
areas, with gusts to 50 mph on the ridgetops.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 20 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread
quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

* FUEL MOISTURE...8 to 9 percent

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

11/04/2025

Special Weather Statement issued November 4 at 2:07PM EST by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC

Washington; Frederick; Central and Eastern Allegany; Augusta; Rockingham; Shenandoah; Frederick; Page; Warren; Clarke; Nelson; Albemarle; Greene; Madison; Rappahannock; Orange; Culpeper; Northern Fauquier; Eastern Highland; Western Loudoun; Northern Virginia Blue Ridge; Central Virginia Blue Ridge; Hampshire; Morgan; Berkeley; Jefferson; Hardy; Eastern Grant; Eastern Mineral; Eastern Pendleton

The combination of 10 hour fuel moistures around 10 percent,
relative humidities around 25 to 30 percent, wind gusts around 20-30
mph, and high temperatures in the upper 60s to low 70s will lead to
an increased risk for the rapid spread of wildfires on Wednesday.
This will be preceded by a night of very poor recoveries, which will
enhance dry conditions across the area, especially in the higher
elevations.

Residents and visitors are urged to properly dispose of cigarette
butts, matches, and any other flammable items in appropriate
containers. Additionally, exercise caution if operating any
equipment that could create sparks and keep vehicles off of dry
grass. Most dry grasses, dead leaves, and other tree litter could
easily ignite and spread fire quickly.

Lastly, remember to obey local burn bans. For more information about
wildfire danger, burn restrictions, and wildfire prevention and
education, please visit your state forestry on environmental
protection website.

For West Virginia, visit www.wvforestry.com
For Maryland, visit dnr.maryland.gov
For Virginia, visit dof.virginia.gov

01/04/2025

Dolly Sods gates on Forest Roads (FR) FR75 and FR19 closed today. The gates will be closed all winter until they open again in April, pending conditions. There will still be parking and vehicle access to the Red Creek Trailhead at the community of Laneville via Laneville Road (county highway). Road conditions on that road will depend on state/county DOH snowplow schedules. The public will need to be mindful of weather conditions and the unmaintained parking area. Dolly Sods Wilderness can still be visited by parking at any of the gates that have been closed and hiking into the wilderness is available, so long as road or gates are not blocked to ensure access to Forest Service personnel and Emergency First Responders.

11/04/2024

https://governor.wv.gov/Documents/2024%20Documents/Burn%20Ban%2011-4-24.pdf

09/17/2024

FIRE RESTRICTION ISSUED FOR DOLLY SODS WILDERNESS -- Effective immediately, building, maintaining, attending, or using a wood or charcoal fire or campfire is prohibited on all National Forest lands, roads, and trails within the confines of the Dolly Sods Wilderness. The area incorporated into this restriction is within the Monongahela National Forest, Cheat-Potomac Ranger District, Randolph, Grant and Tucker Counties, West Virginia.

The purpose of this fire restriction is to protect public health and safety and natural resources by prohibiting recreational fires during periods of high fire danger. West Virginia is in a prolonged drought leading to decreased fuel moistures across the forest. Current and predicted weather shows little to no relief heading into the fall season. In addition, any fire starting in the wilderness would prove difficult to suppress.

Wilderness has restrictions in place already that make suppressing fires more difficult than non-wilderness areas. Dolly Sods has the added complexity of being a known unexploded ordinance area, further hampering firefighting tactics and endangering the welfare of the public and emergency responders.

Further information may be obtained at the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District Office at 304-478-3251, and at the National Forest Supervisor’s Office at 304-363-1800.

07/29/2024

Think you have leadership skills? Come show us!

We are three GS-11 Assistant Fire Management Officers to support and manage fire operations, develop fire management plans, and collaborate with local, state, and federal agencies on wildfire prevention and response strategies.

Available locations include: Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge ( ), West Zone Fire Management Office, and North Zone Fire Management Office ( )

Apply by August 7 --> https://bit.ly/3SoKFdz



U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Careers

📸 Howard Boss/USFWS