00:47 Wildfires Rage in Virginia A wildfire in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia grows to 3,000 acres. Meteorologist Danielle Banks shares the latest information.

A wildfire at Virginia's Shenandoah National Park continues to grow in size, and Thursday evening, officials said the blaze has claimed at least 8,000 acres.

More than a dozen hiking trails have been closed due to the so-called Rocky Mount fire, and nearly 250 firefighters have been assigned to the inferno, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. It has quickly become one of the worst wildfires since Shenandoah became a national park 80 years ago, the Washington Post said.

As of Thursday, Skyline Drive was closed between mile 65 at the Swift Run Entrance and mile 87.5, Blackrock Gap, according to the National Park Service. The Appalachian Trail closure grew to 12 miles extending from Powell Gap to Blackrock Gap – a span of 17.5 miles.

The fire is 40 percent contained, the Washington Post also said.

“We are stationing people around the fire and putting in containment lines, the Virginia Department of Forestry is putting in dozen lines in various places around the fire, and we’re just trying to hold it in the park,” Sally Hurlbert, a ranger with the National Park Service, told NBC29.com. “We won’t let it get out of the park.”

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Some relief may be coming, but conditions will quickly turn warm and dry again this weekend.

"A few showers are possible to start the weekend in Shenandoah National Park, but clouds will decrease during Saturday afternoon," said weather.com meteorologist Linda Lam. "Sunny and dry conditions are then expected for Sunday. Winds will be between 5 and 10 mph and mainly from the north on Saturday, but shifting to a more southeasterly wind by Sunday afternoon. High temperatures will be around 70 degrees this weekend, while lows will range from the mid-40s to the lower 50s."

Officials suspect the fire may have been caused by humans, according to a press release from the National Park Service. The fire started within the park's Fire Ecology Zone where prescribed burns are allowed, but it was not a scheduled prescribed burn.

The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) is in the midst of fighting many wildfires right now, some of which were the results of arson. One fire burning behind Hurley High School in Buchanan County has caused that school to close.

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“We are nearing the end of spring wildfire season in Virginia, but the number and size of several wildland fires in far southwest Virginia are presenting a challenge,” John Miller, director of resource protection for the VDOF, said in a press release. “We’re moving some resources from our Central and Eastern Regions to augment the folks in our Western Region who have been fighting a number of large wildfires, several of which appear to be the result of arson.”

Officials are offering a $2,000 reward if anyone has information regarding who started the wildfires. They ask anyone with information to call the Arson Tip Line at (434) 220-9053.

The VDOF has requested that residents refrain from burning trash before 4 p.m. and that if residents smell or see smoke, to only call 911 if you see a fire nearby.