Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Fire Trail

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Fire Trail

1930s

The African Americans of Co. No. 2399 camp No. Army 3 [C], who were stationed at Fort Belvoir, built a fire trail through what is today’s Lake Accotink Park. The trail crossed the then Outlying Reservation of Fort Belvoir. Senator Bristow, who lived in Springfield, had suggested that the CCC camp build the trail. The trail, which crossed through woods and over streams and railroad tracks, connected to logging roads used by foresters. The trail provided a fire break and a short cut for fire engines and those engaged in hunting and fishing

Transportation

The trail started on Old Keene Mill Road near Keene Mill Elementary school and connected to logging roads that crossed through today’s park property. Lake Accotink Park

Springfield

Braddock

Lee

Civilian Conservation Corps Fire Trail’s history is described in a website that includes Photos, History, Personal experience of a resident who used the trail, Maps, Newspaper Articles, and CCC Camp Inspection Reports etc. Historical Lake Accotink >> Accotink History Home https://vaaccotink.weebly.com/ccc.html CCC Camp Helps Save Fairfax Homes In Forest Fire One hundred youth from the CCC camp at Fort Belvoir helped extinguish a large forest fire. The youth were under the command of Capt. F.G. Bryan, Field Artillery Reserve. From Washington Post article, November 9, 1937 Notes: In the Washington Post news article, the CCC young men were recognized for helping save homes and subduing the fire, but the article did not identify them as African Americans. African Americans and Native Americans CCC camps were segregated from White CCC camps. See Moving Forward Initiative: The African American Experience in the Civilian Conservation Corps Article by Ashley McNeil, Hannah Traverse