Unified Command proves successful in Wild Rock Fire

Bucket drop being performed by WV National Guard helicopter.

Jay Young

The Wild Rock fire broke out in the New River Gorge on the afternoon of November 9, 2022. The fire started on private land, quickly spread into the park, and threatened nearby homes and businesses. A quick and unified response from National Park Service (NPS) and Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services prevented the loss of homes and structures.

The fire was managed through Unified Command with an Incident Commander from NPS working jointly with an Incident Commander from Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services. By the second day, the fire grew to approximately 200 acres and still threatened local homes and businesses. Firefighters partnered with the West Virginia National Guard to send a Blackhawk helicopter to assist firefighting efforts by providing water bucket drops. The National Guard crew flew 22 drops with more than 13,200 gallons of water delivered from the air.

The unified command approach enabled firefighters to act quickly to prevent the loss of structures and to contain the fire before it spread further. Steep terrain, high winds, dry fuels, and low humidity made firefighting efforts dangerous and difficult. This management approach resulted in a quick and effective response with no structures lost and no injuries to firefighters or local residents. Assistance from the WV National Guard (Company C, 1-150th Assault Battalion out of Wheeling, WV) also proved extremely effective in fighting this fire with air resources, which helped reduce the need for firefighters to be further exposed to the dangerous conditions imposed by the steepness of the terrain and by fire behavior.

Fire burning below Wild Rock.

NPS

Michelle Faherty, NPS Incident Commander, was pleased with the unified response. “As one of the Incident Commanders, it was very rewarding to be able to say that because of our teamwork, skill set, and professionalism, we had zero injuries and did not have any damage to any structures on the Wild Rock Fire,” she said “All resources and the public at large can be really proud of a job well-done and for showing such support and dedication.”