11/24/16 JIC Wildfire Summary 11:30AM

For a downloadable, printable PDF version, click here

MORNING SUMMARY ON FIRES AND FIRE COMPLEXES

NOTE: The Morning Summary is an overview of fires. The Evening Summary is more detailed, listing air quality conditions, evacuations, closures or pertinent information related to specific fires or fire complexes

NEW FIRE START

HWY 151 FIRE (USFS - Buncombe County)

Fire crews detected a new fire start last night. N.C. Forest Service responded with a dozer and USFS were called to assist.

Acreage: 25 – Start Date: November 24

MARTIN TRACE FIRE (NCFS – CLAY COUNTY)

A task force of 50 fire personnel and aircraft assisted local responders. Resources were provided by the Boteler Fire Complex, and remained on scene until late last night.

Acreage: 200 – Start Date: November 23

CAMP BRANCH FIRE (USFS – MACON COUNTY)

A portion of Wayah Road (R1310) off of Hwy 64 is still closed from intersection of Wayah Bald Road (east) and intersection of Crawford Road (west).

Acreage: 700  – Start Date: November 23

HORTON FIRE (NCFS – WATAUGA COUNTY)

Firefighting objectives today are to continue to protect homes; increase and hold containment lines; and further burnout operations if weather conditions are favorable. Three power poles located near Watson Drive and Sampson Road have been burned at the base. Blue Ridge Electric utility crews will be working to replace those poles today.

Sampson Road remains closed at State View Road. Residents that do not live in the area are asked to avoid the area, allowing fire response traffic safe access to the fire. The Watauga County Sheriff’s Office is patrolling the fire perimeter.

Acreage: 1200 — Containment: 65% — Personnel: 125 — Start Date: November 21
http://hortonfire.blogspot.com/

PINNACLE MOUNTAIN FIRE (SCFS / USFS – PICKENS AND TRANSYLVANIA COUNTIES)

Structure protection teams are staged in high risk areas holding line, evaluating homes for risk and mitigating risks where possible.

·      Structures threatened are in Pickens Co. (112), Greenville Co. (523), and Transylvania Co., NC (171)

·      Populations effected are Pickens Co. (122), Greenville Co. (187), and Transylvania Co. (132)

·      Table Rock State Park and the trail system remains closed

Acreage: 7,282 — Containment: 40% — Personnel: 240 — Start Date: November 9
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5108/

CLEAR CREEK FIRE (NCFS / USFS – MARION, MCDOWELL COUNTY)

Firefighters working on the southwest portion of the fire continue to construct and improve indirect fireline utilizing dozers and hand crews. Crews will continue to improve fireline on the northwest edge of the fire in preparation for firing operations as needed. Structure protection continues along the Clear Creek Road and Hwy 80 as crews patrol and continue with assessment. Hwy 80 from Toms Creek Road to the Blue Ridge Parkway is still closed to nonresidents. Clear Creek Road, at the junction with Old Clear Creek Road, is closed to nonresidents.

A community meeting is scheduled 6:30 P.M. this Friday 11/25/16 at Grace Community Church, 5182 U.S.70 Marion, NC.

Acreage: 2,509 – Containment: 15% — Personnel: 298 — Start Date: November 20

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5106/#

MAPLE SPRINGS FIRE (USFS—LAKE SANTEELAH AREA, GRAHAM COUNTY)
Light rain fell over the Maple Springs Fire last night and early this morning. The cloudy, damper conditions will reduce the chance of fire spread and help to mop up containment lines today.

The U.S. Forest Service closure order is still in effect for the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness and roads leading into the area.

Acreage: 7,877 — Containment: 71% — Personnel: 263 — Start Date: November 4

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5090/

Tellico Fire (USFS—NANTAHALA GORGE AREA, Swain and Macon Counties)
Fire operations continue; update will be provided in the Evening Summary.
Acreage: 13,874— Containment: 91% — Personnel: 199— Start Date: November 3

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5084/

Boteler Fire (USFS—CHUNKY GAL AREA, Clay County)

The Incident Management Team provided initial attack resources to local responders on a new start located near Brasstown in Clay County. Fire operations continue on the Boteler Fire; update will be provided in the Evening Summary.

Acreage: 9,036 — Containment: 77% — Personnel: 270 – Start Date: October 25

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5075/

PARTY ROCK FIRE (NCFS—LAKE LURE AREA, RUTHERFORD, BUNCOMBE, AND HENDERSON COUNTIES)
Light rain received last night is expected to dry out again by this afternoon. Crews continue to search for hot spots within 100 feet of the fire perimeter. Today, they will begin using a handheld infrared scanner which can see through the leaf litter and detect otherwise hidden heat. Three (3) community meetings are scheduled for Saturday 11/26/16:

10:00 A.M.	Lake Lure Fire Department - 622 Memorial HWY – Lake Lure
12:00 P.M.	Chimney Rock Fire Department - 109 Terrace Dr. - Lake Lure
2:00 P.M.	Bat Cave Baptist Church - 5095 Chimney Rock Rd. - Hendersonville

Acreage: 7,171 — Containment: 60% — Personnel:   383 — Start Date: November 5

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5092/

CHESTNUT KNOB FIRE (NCFS—SOUTH MOUNTAINS STATE PARK, BURKE COUNTY)
Fire operations continue; update will be provided in the Evening Summary.
Acreage: 6,435 — Containment: 70% — Personnel: 229 — Start Date: November 6
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5101/

ROCK MOUNTAIN FIRE (USFS – SOUTHERN NANTAHALA WILDERNESS AREA, NORTH GEORGIA AND CLAY AND MACON COUNTIES IN NC)
Weather permitting, firefighters will begin firing operations to help bring the fire down to containment lines. These operations will be on the north end of the fire from Chestnut Ridge to Indian Springs, as well as on the southeastern part of the active edge of the fire down towards Patterson Gap west to Abe Gap. Burnout may include use of air and ground resources. Structure groups will continue to hold and improve structure lines in and around all structures in the Patterson Gap and Betty’s Creek Road area. To see the latest pre-evacuation and evacuation updates, CLICK HERE.

Acreage: 18,069— Containment: 35% — Personnel: 515— Start Date: November 9
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5100/#