For
Immediate Release:
Watauga County, NC (November 24, 2016 – 9:00 AM).
Over 50 firefighters, law enforcement and emergency response
personnel were active on the Horton Fire last night. Priority remained patrolling
the fire area and the protection of homes particularly along Dugger Fire Tower
Road. The fire is now approximately 1200 acres in size and remains at 65%
contained. The fire is expected to grow to 1350-1500 acres within the established
containment lines. No homes have been lost in this fire.
Minimal amounts of rain fell in and around the fire area
overnight (300ths of an inch by one measurement near The Watauga Medical Center).
The precipitation helped keep fire behavior low overnight but challenges
continue today. Approximately 125
responders from multiple agencies will continue to work towards full
containment of the fire. Fire fighting
objectives today are to continue to protect homes in and around the fire and to
increase and hold containment lines through the use of active patrols and
further burn out operations if weather conditions are favorable.
Incident Commander Brent Triplett said that the fire
fighters continue “making good headway in achieving our objectives. This is one
of the most interagency teams that I have ever worked with. Teams have come from
all over to work together. Thank you to all of the crews working today on
Thanksgiving. We are very thankful for the wonderful community support and for
the ongoing dedication of all of the responders and particularly to the many
volunteer fire fighters how have been vital to this response.”
A Type III Incident Management Team will be arriving this
morning to aid in the management of the fire. The IMT will complete transition
briefings and then join the Unified Command in completing the objectives of
containing and putting out the fire.
Sampson Road remains closed at State View Road. Members of
the public who do not live in the area are asked to continue to avoid the area
to allow fire response traffic safe access to the fire. The Watauga County
Sheriff’s Office is patrolling the fire perimeter.
Three power polls located near Watson Drive and Sampson Road
have been burned at the base. Bremco/Blue Ridge Electric utility crews will be
working to replace those polls today.
Stay tuned to @FireHorton
on twitter and the HortonFire.blogspot.com
for any further updates or changes. Media phone number: 828-201-2885
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Location: Horton Fire, Watauga County
For a downloadable, printable PDF version, click here
Thank you fire fighters!!
ReplyDeleteYou are quite welcome! Have a great turkey day!
ReplyDelete