Update:
According to a Hyper Reach message that went out just before 8 p.m. Sunday, the fire is approximately 15 acres in size. It is 40% contained. Crews will remain on scene overnight to limit future spread. Suppression efforts will continue into Monday. The fire is believed to have been caused by downed power lines.
Hyper Reach is the county’s emergency alert system. Sign up to receive alerts via text message or email at https://signup.hyper-reach.com/hyper_reach/sign_up_page_2/?id=101182.
Madison County officials have issued a countywide fire ban as crews fight a wildfire in the Rapidan Wildlife area of the county.
On Sunday, crews were battling an active blaze near the Rapidan Camp. According to county administrator Jonathon Weakley, crews from Madison County, Sperryville, Woodville, the National Park Service and the Department of Forestry were on scene. As of approximately 4 p.m., the fire had impacted 40 acres. The cause is currently unknown.
A local emergency has been declared and “due to the high winds, dry conditions and the heavily committed resources tending to the Rapidan Wildfire,” a countywide burn ban has been made effective immediately.
More information will be released as it becomes available.
This isn’t the first time the county has dealt with a wildfire. In 2023, the Quaker Run Fire burned nearly 4,000 acres over several days.
