NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (WDBJ) – A year ago, the mountains in the James River Face Wilderness were nearly unrecognizable as thousands of trees caught fire in the destruction. Matt’s Creek FireMore than 11,000 acres of land between the two districts of our country are burning.

For two weeks, the air in Rockbridge and Bedford counties was filled with smoke as flames roared through the forest.

BedfordCo. “We’re glad it was a beautiful, sunny day and it wasn’t this time last year,” Fire and Rescue Chief Janet Blankenship said.

U.S. Forest Service Officials said there were no injuries or property damage, but it was still one of the worst fires residents have ever seen in their lifetimes.

Forest ecologist Jean Lorber said the region is no stranger to such disasters.

“The Appalachians have really been shaped by fire for over 10,000 years,” Lorber said. “It’s been well documented that fire is a part of this landscape, and many plant and animal species and ecological communities in the Appalachians actually benefit from fire.”

Lorber said the fire allowed the forest to continue to thrive.

“In some cases, a layer of shrubs called Mountain Laurel actually prevents young trees from becoming established. This layer of Mountain Laurel was killed, which allowed more grasses and small trees to form, allowing the next generation of forests to form,” Lorber said.

It’s been a long year of recovery for the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, but the trails are reopened and ready for a new season.

“If you’re hiking in these areas, you’ll notice that when the leaves come out next year, the forest canopy is solid and healthy underneath. Even though you see that black color and charcoal on the ground, I bet you’ll see a lot of young grasses and wildflowers and young trees growing underneath that weren’t there before the wildfire,” Lorber said.

Investigators say the fire was human-caused, but they are still investigating what specifically sparked the flames.

Forestry experts said that 95 percent of forest fires are caused by humans and can be prevented. Mid-Atlantic Interstate Fire Protection Convention states that there are 11 ways to prevent forest fires in lodges.

1. Use fire-resistant building materials
2. If you must burn, do so safely.
3. Clean your roof
4. Keep your chimney clean
5. Store firewood away from your home
6. Use only approved wood burning appliances
7. Install spark arrester
8. Check the vegetation
9. Develop a water source
10. Plan adequate access and escape
11. Have fire tools ready

Additional information can be found at: firewise.org.

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