COVINGTON, Va. (AP) _ Firefighters continue to battle five large and numerous smaller wildfires that have burned more than 20,000 acres in Virginia. The U.S. Forest Service says more than 360 firefighters from 23 states have helped battle the blazes.
The largest fire is in a remote area in Alleghany County 10 miles west of Covington. The Forest Service says more than 7,600 acres have burned since Saturday. The Alleghany Tunnels Fire may be the biggest in Virginia history.
Another in Page County is more than 6 miles long and has burned 5,400 acres.
Large fires also are burning in Craig, Rockbridge and Shenandoah counties. A portion of the fire in Shenandoah County also involves Hardy County, W.Va.
The Barbours Creek Fire at the Craig County-Alleghany County line has burned almost 2,700 acres. The Rich Hole Fire at the Rockbridge County-Alleghany County line has burned more than 3,600 acres.
Part of Route 770 in Alleghany County remains closed because of wildfires.
Rockbridge County yesterday implemented a county-wide burn ban effective immediately. No open air burning is allowed until further notice.
The Associated Press and Velvet Hall contributed to this story.
