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National Forests in
North Carolina
160A
Zillicoa St.
Asheville,
N.C. 28801
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JIC WILDFIRE SUMMARY
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Joint Information Center (JIC):
http://ncjic.blogspot.com
Media Contacts:
Cathy Dowd, 828-257-4215
Lisa Jennings, 828-337-1359
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Joint
Information Center Western NC Wildfires
MORNING SUMMARY ~ TUESDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2016
MORNING BRIEFS ON FIRES AND FIRE COMPLEXES
NEW FIRE STARTS:
ASHE COUNTY: 2 Mile Fire – at last report was
contained at approximately 400 acres. Will hopefully have better acreage on
that later today.
WATAUGA COUNTY: Horton Fire – is currently
approximately 400 acres but not contained. It has the potential to grow to
approximately 1,000 acres if it escapes the box they’re trying to hold it in. There
are 55 structures to the northeast of Blowing Rock around Sampson Road and the
Parkway that could be threatened if it grows. There is currently no reported
containment on this fire. Burnout operations are underway along with structure
protection. Sampson Road is closed, access only for emergency vehicles. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered.
More
information on these fires will be posted to the Evening Summary.
PINNACLE MOUNTAIN FIRE (SCFS / USFS – PICKENS AND TRANSYLVANIA COUNTIES)
Overnight infrared flights of the Pinnacle Mountain
fire reveal the blaze has grown to approximately 6,000 acres, as estimated in
yesterday’s update. The fire has crossed into the north-western sliver of
Greenville County and up against the western side of Table Rock Reservoir. This
portion of the fire, which escaped a small portion of the northern perimeter of
the original containment area late Saturday is the most active area and continues
to grow at a moderate pace. The division of 60 hand crew members and three
bulldozers assigned to this growing section is constructing lines from Table
Rock Reservoir on the east around the fire to Benfield Road on the west where
Greenville and Pickens counties meet. The western and southwestern
firelines are very well contained after successful burnouts. Most other
personnel continue to concentrate their efforts on reinforcing and improving
the lines on all other sides of the containment area. One Black Hawk and two
Chinook helicopters continue to drop water on hot spots.
CLEAR CREEK FIRE (NCFS / USFS – PLEASANT GARDEN, MCDOWELL COUNTY)
A public meeting will be held tonight 11/22/16 at
6:30 PM at the Greenlee Baptist Church on
5977 US 70 W ~ Old Fort, NC. Please note that the Clear Creek Road, at the
junction with Old Clear Creek Road, is closed to residential traffic only.
Dry fuels and wind over the past couple of days
provided for increased fire activity despite cooler temperatures. Crews have
made progress prepping, installing, and improving indirect fireline. Favorable conditions
yesterday allowed for burnout operations along the southern and eastern
portions of the fire. Night operations continued to patrol along the southern
and eastern edges of the fire. Planned Actions: Firefighters will continue to
construct and improve indirect fireline around the fire perimeter. When
possible, crews will resume burnout operations on the northeastern edge of the
fire. Structure protection will continue along the Clear Creek Road and Hwy 80.
Air resources are available to assist firefighters along the western edge of
the fire with bucket drops.
Thompson’s Eastern Montana Type II Incident Management
Team assumed command of the fire on Nov. 21st at 8:00 pm. The IMT will be
working closely with local US Forest Service, NC Forest Service, and McDowell
County partners. Numerous resources continue to arrive on incident including
Type 1 and Type 2 hand crews, engines, heavy equipment, and helicopters
Acreage:
1187 – Containment:
0% — Start Date: November 20
MAPLE SPRINGS FIRE
(USFS—LAKE SANTEELAH AREA, GRAHAM COUNTY)
A reconnaissance flight on yesterday afternoon found no smokes on the Maple Springs fire and an evening infrared flight revealed only a half dozen small areas of heat, all well within established containment lines. The only uncontained line on the fire is in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness.
Acreage: 7,788 — Containment: 69% — Personnel: 276 — Start Date: November 4
A reconnaissance flight on yesterday afternoon found no smokes on the Maple Springs fire and an evening infrared flight revealed only a half dozen small areas of heat, all well within established containment lines. The only uncontained line on the fire is in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness.
Acreage: 7,788 — Containment: 69% — Personnel: 276 — Start Date: November 4
Tellico Fire (USFS—NANTAHALA GORGE AREA, Swain
and Macon Counties)
No fire spread is anticipated, although the potential for more active fire behavior remains. Leaves are the biggest concern for firefighters as the unseasonably late leaf fall continues to spread fresh fuel upon the fire. Each day firefighters must walk the perimeter of the fire to remove leaves from the containment line. If this were not done on a regular basis, the accumulated leaf fall would bridge the containment lines and provide a path for fire to escape containment.
No fire spread is anticipated, although the potential for more active fire behavior remains. Leaves are the biggest concern for firefighters as the unseasonably late leaf fall continues to spread fresh fuel upon the fire. Each day firefighters must walk the perimeter of the fire to remove leaves from the containment line. If this were not done on a regular basis, the accumulated leaf fall would bridge the containment lines and provide a path for fire to escape containment.
Acreage: 13,874— Containment: 91% — Personnel: 294— Start Date: November
3
Boteler Fire (USFS—CHUNKY GAL AREA, Clay County)
Morning
update remains unchanged; firefighters will monitor and respond to any threats
to the containment line. Leaf fall continues to challenge containment efforts
by covering fire lines causing reburn. Patrolling and monitoring existing firelines
will continue.
Acreage: 9,043— Containment: 77% — Personnel: 334 – Start Date: October
25
CATHY GAP FIRE (USFS – JACKSON/TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY LINE)
Based
on completed containment actions and available staffing, no fire spread is
anticipated. Risk should be reduced as the cold front moves past the area and
wind speeds moderate. Fire crews will strengthen containment lines and provide
structure protection where needed. Increased wind speeds will result in a
heavier leaf fall. These leaves will accumulate, and add to the potential for
re-burn inside the fire area. Crews will patrol and clear leaves from
containment lines.
Acreage: 123 — Containment: 85% — Personnel: 53 — Start Date: November 17
PARTY ROCK FIRE (NCFS—LAKE LURE AREA, RUTHERFORD, BUNCOMBE, AND HENDERSON
COUNTIES)
All
roads in the Lake Lure area are now open and all evacuation orders and
pre-evacuation notices have been cancelled. The evacuation center will close
today. Firefighters will continue to “mop-up” the fire perimeter today,
thankful that fire lines have held after three straight days of strong winds. Crews
will remain vigilant since the fuels that drove the growth of the Party Rock
Fire are still critically dry and more fuel, in the form of falling leaves,
were being spread by the wind. Hot spots remain and have been visible,
especially at night, and those are being dealt with if they pose a threat to
structures or the containment lines. Winds are expected to be light today.
Some
fire crews were released last night and more will go home, or to other fires,
today.
After
managing the fire for two weeks, The Brandon North Carolina Incident Management
team is also heading home tomorrow. An Oregon Department of Forestry Incident
Management Team is now on site and will take command of the fire Wednesday
11/23/16.
Steve
Troxler, N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture in addition to local, state and
federal delegates are scheduled to tour the Party Rock Fire today followed by a
news conference at 3:00 P.M.
More
information will be provided on the Evening Summary.
The
Brandon Incident Management Team would like to extend a special thank you to
the citizens of the Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Village communities and
surrounding areas for their outpouring of generosity to those involved with
fighting the Party Rock Fire. Please contact your local county emergency
management office. Contact information is listed on the North Carolina Joint Information
Center Blog at http://ncjic.blogspot.com/p/donations.html
Acreage: 7,171 — Containment: 45% — Personnel: 902 — Start Date: November 5
Acreage: 7,171 — Containment: 45% — Personnel: 902 — Start Date: November 5
CHESTNUT KNOB FIRE
(NCFS—SOUTH MOUNTAINS STATE PARK, BURKE COUNTY)
Re-burn of newly fallen leaves is still a major issue. Crews are continuing to isolate and extinguish spots of re-ignition to prevent fire spread. Aerial resources were used again yesterday to cool down areas of re-burn so crews could work the re-ignition areas. The Florida Green Team was given approval by their agency to extend their assignment from 14 to 21 days. Crews are beginning to assess potential damage to trail areas and stream crossings.
Acreage: 6,433— Containment: 50% — Personnel: 352 — Start Date: November 6
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5101/
Re-burn of newly fallen leaves is still a major issue. Crews are continuing to isolate and extinguish spots of re-ignition to prevent fire spread. Aerial resources were used again yesterday to cool down areas of re-burn so crews could work the re-ignition areas. The Florida Green Team was given approval by their agency to extend their assignment from 14 to 21 days. Crews are beginning to assess potential damage to trail areas and stream crossings.
Acreage: 6,433— Containment: 50% — Personnel: 352 — Start Date: November 6
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5101/
DOBSON 3 FIRE
(BIA— QUALLA BOUNDARY, JACKSON COUNTY)
Fire resources were sent to the Clear Creek Fire to assist the Uwharrie Ranger Dist. Fire suppression crews continue to patrol all fires within the Qualla Boundary. Safety of the firefighters and of the community is the number the one priority as the firefighters go about their daily responsibilities.
Acreage: 756— Containment: 90% — Personnel: 71 — Start Date: November 2
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5097/#
Fire resources were sent to the Clear Creek Fire to assist the Uwharrie Ranger Dist. Fire suppression crews continue to patrol all fires within the Qualla Boundary. Safety of the firefighters and of the community is the number the one priority as the firefighters go about their daily responsibilities.
Acreage: 756— Containment: 90% — Personnel: 71 — Start Date: November 2
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5097/#
ROCK MOUNTAIN FIRE (USFS – SOUTHERN NANTAHALA WILDERNESS AREA, NORTH
GEORGIA AND CLAY AND MACON COUNTIES IN NC)
There is a community meeting for information about the Rock Mountain Fire tonight 11/22/16. The meeting will be held at the Macon County Community Center next to the Otto Firehouse on 60 Firehouse Dr. at 6 P.M.
There is a community meeting for information about the Rock Mountain Fire tonight 11/22/16. The meeting will be held at the Macon County Community Center next to the Otto Firehouse on 60 Firehouse Dr. at 6 P.M.
Mulberry Road is closed to through traffic in Macon County. It is open to local residents and emergency personnel only.
Acreage: 11,757 — Containment: 30% — Personnel: 458— Start Date: November 9
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5100/#
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5100/#
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