UPDATE (March 19, 5:00 p.m.) :

U.S. Forest Service staff have told WHSV that the fire has grown to an estimated 842 acres. Hopefully weekend rain and snow will assist the firefighting effort.

UPDATE (March 18, 8:30 p.m.) :

Approximately 380 acres have burned so far, according to a U.S. Forest Service dispatch. "There is no estimate of containment at this time," said the Forest Service. The dispatch also said: "Friday firefighters scouted, constructed and improved containment lines and conducted burn-out operations to protect private property. A helicopter dropped water to assist suppression efforts."

ORIGINAL STORY (March 18, 5:05 p.m.) :

A wildfire in Augusta County has doubled in size, shutting down roads and requiring multiple agencies to tackle it.

The fire started Thursday and is so massive that its smoke can be seen from more than 20 miles away.

The fire has now spread across 270 acres. While a wildfire is not unusual during the spring season, this fire on Cellar Mountain, in the St. Mary's Wilderness area, is considered large. That means a lot of work for nearly 65 firefighters in what's their first full day responding to the flames. Crews have been cutting down trees, raking away leaves and removing everything out of the fire's way except dirt. All in an effort to minimize the power of the wildfire.

The exact reach of the fire or its cause are unknown. On Friday, crews were exploring and scouting the fire's perimeter to get a better understanding.

Their work doesn't come without danger.

"Some of the hazards and threats of that fire are the steep terrain and, of course, the fire itself," said Peter Irvine with the U.S Forest Service, "We're working hard to keep the public safe, to keep the firefighters safe, and to contain this fire as quickly as we can."

On Friday, most of the fire was spreading up the ridge. Leaders said this is good news because it's spreading

upward

toward the wilderness and away from homes. Some areas of fire also moved down-slope. Fire responders said containment will likely take a couple of days. Right now, they are working on a strategy to get the fire under control.

WHSV first reported on the wildfire

shortly after the smoke plume appeared on one of our First Alert Sky Cams on Thursday. Our coverage then also included some viewer-submitted photos.