UPDATE 4/30 6:00pm

West Portsmouth, Ohio (WSAZ) --Firefighters battling the state's largest recorded wildfire gained the upper hand on the estimated 2,865-acre blaze Thursday. The fire was declared contained by incident commander Mike Bowden, fire program administrator for the ODNR Division of Forestry late Thursday afternoon.

The suspected arson caused wildfire began Friday evening and quickly became a large incident. A team of volunteer fire departments, several ODNR divisions, US Forest Service, and retired state wildfire experts combined with Ohio Division of Forestry firefighters to field over 150 ground and support forces.

The backpack and bridle trails south and west of State Route 125 will remain closed indefinitely for public safety. State Forest Road 2 from the Road 1 and Road 2 intersection west to Upper Twin Creek Road/CR 96 will remain closed until wildfire mop-up control measures are completed.

UPDATE 4/29 2:00pm

West Portsmouth, Ohio (WSAZ) -- The Shawnee State Forest wildfire is now 80 percent contained and has burned nearly 3,000 acres.

“Yesterday and overnight, wildfire fighters constructed additional control lines and successfully maintained existing ones to the point that the wildfire is now mostly contained,” said Mike Bowden, fire program administrator for the ODNR Division of Forestry. “We’ve had light rains, but much more will be needed to cool down hot spots on the fire.”

Today, 58 wildfire fighters, forming four different crews, are working to patrol existing lines, and to continue building a fire control line along the eastern edge of the wildfire.

The ODNR Divisions of Natural Areas and Preserves, the Division of Wildlife, Division of Parks & Recreation, Division of Watercraft and the Office of Law Enforcement, and the Wayne National Forest all are providing numerous staff in support of wildfire control today.

UPDATE 4/28 11:15am

West Portsmouth, Ohio (WSAZ) --– The ODNR Division of Forestry says gusting winds, high temperatures and humidity levels in the 20 percent range has increased the size of a large wildfire in the Shawnee State Forest.

“Strong winds in the afternoon pushed spot fires across control lines on the eastern edge of the fire near Poplar Hollow,” said Mike Bowden, fire program administrator for the ODNR Division of Forestry. “

80 wildfire fighters, forming five different crews, have mobilized to critical control areas on the forest as part of Tuesday’s day shift.

More help in fighting the 2,600-acre wildfire arrived with foresters and officers from Fernwood, Mohican-Memorial, Scioto Trail and Pike State Forests, as well as numerous state service foresters.

On Monday, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources closed both the Shawnee State Forest Backpack and Bridle Trails.

The Division of Wildlife’s helicopter conducted more than 50 water drops on Monday and is operating again today.

UPDATE 4/27 1:00pm

West Portsmouth, Ohio (WSAZ) --State foresters report that the wildfire located in the Mackletree Road area of Shawnee State Forest is now estimated at 1,500 acres in size.

“Our fire fighters face tough conditions today with low humidity levels, gusting wind conditions, and temperatures expected near 90 degrees,” said Mike Bowden, fire program administrator for the ODNR Division of Forestry. “An additional complicating factor is the number of standing dead trees which are holding flame embers and leading to additional fire ignitions.”

At 7:30 a.m. four working divisions of wildfire fighters assisted by seven bulldozers, three fire engines departed the state forest headquarters to relieve crews that worked overnight establishing fire lines.

A state forest crew made progress working through the early morning to punch in a critical fire line in the Mackletree Road area.

“We appreciate support provided by the Division of Wildlife with the use of their helicopter to begin water dropping operations,” said Bowden. “This Bell 206B3 Jet Ranger helicopter is capable of delivering up to 100 gallons of water directly on critical fire control spots.”

In addition to support provided by the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ mobile command center arrived on Sunday afternoon to help improve radio communications between state foresters and local volunteer fire departments. department chiefs.

UPDATE 4/26 11:15pm
SCIOTO COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) -- The Ohio Division of Forestry along with Volunteer Firefighters are working to contain a blaze in the Shawnee State Forest in Scioto County.

The Ohio Division of Natural Resources, (ODNR) estimates that the fire is now approximately 1,200 acres in size.

The wildfires are near Mackletree Road off of State Route 125.

Forest Officials believe those three fires were intentionally set.

Shawnee State Forest Officers arrested Michael Thompson, a Niles Township Volunteer Firefighter.

Thompson is charged with felony arson.

Investigators say Thompson is a suspect in those wildfires, but the charges are involve an unrelated incident.

Officers found accelerates in Thompson’s car, and their investigation is ongoing.

As of Sunday night three fires were burning, all within the same area of the forest.

Sunday night ODNR Officials flew over the fires, their assessment showed that the fire has combined from the Mackletree area south toward East Fork Creek.

In a news release, Mike Bowden, the ONDR Division of Forestry Fire Program Administrator said, “Our records indicate that the combination and spread of the two large wildfires near Mackletree Road make this wildfire the most significant one that the Ohio Division of Forestry has fought in the past two decades.”

Volunteer Firefighters are stationed on Mackletree Road to prevent the fire from endangering any homes or structures.

Crews are staying in the forest through the night to keep an eye on the fire, and try to suppress what they can while there is less wind and more humidity in the air.

Monday they plan to use a helicopter to drop water on the fire, if conditions allow.

He's accused of setting two fires near Mackletree Road. This is an area near Shawnee State Park Lodge. Our crew on the scene says there are also homes nearby.

Emergency crews tell WSAZ.com that more than a thousand acres have burned since the fires were first reported Friday evening.

Thompson has been charged with Third Degree Felony Arson. If convicted the charge carries up to a $10,000 fine and a prison sentence of up to five years.