11/25/16 JIC Wildfire Summary 11:30AM

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MORNING SUMMARY ~ FRIDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2016Joint Information Center Western NC Wildfires

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

HWY 151 FIRE (USFS – CANDLER, BUNCOMBE COUNTY)

The Blue Ridge Parkway is closed from mile marker 402 to 408 due to smoke impacts. Burnout operations took place yesterday and last night; the fire perimeter is entirely on USFS land. Houses in the area are secure from fire threats at this time. The USFS will have a hand crew and other resources on the fire to secure the lines and mop up, NCFS will check in as needed to lend assistance if needed.

Acreage: ~200 – Start Date: November 24

HORTON FIRE (NCFS – BLOWING ROCK, WATAUGA COUNTY)
The Rodney Weeks’ Type 3 North Idaho Team assumed management of the fire at 7:00 a.m.

Firefighters provided patrols throughout the night. Hot spots were detected south of the Reynolds Parkway on the north end of the fire. Smoke is significantly affecting visibility from Watson Road up to the Dugger Fire Tower Road. Wind gusts up to 70 mph are expected tonight through the weekend prompting a weather watch warning for the Horton Fire area. Crews are mopping up and monitoring all areas of the fire.

Sampson Road remains closed to the public at State View Road. The public is asked to avoid the Sampson Road area south of the Blue Ridge Parkway to provide safety for firefighters and local residents.
Acreage: 1408 — Containment: 65% — Personnel: 125 — Start Date: November 21
http://hortonfire.blogspot.com/

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

A community meeting is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. tonight at Grace Community Church, 5182 U.S.70 Marion, NC. Residents living in this area are asked to limit their travel on the roads to allow the firefighters to work safely. Hwy NC 80 is closed to non-residents from Toms Creek Road to the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Yancey County line; reopening the highway is being evaluated.

Fire crews continued to patrol and monitor the southern, eastern and northeastern perimeter of the fire near Clear Creek and Lake Tahoma Roads and extinguished any hot spots they found. Structure assessment and prep work continued in the Locust Cove area. Along the western and northwestern edge of the fire, crews continued to prep, install, and improve indirect fire lines. Helicopter bucket drops were successful in slowing the fire spread along the southwestern edge by delivering 50,000 to 60,000 gallons of water. Overnight, firefighters patrolled and monitored the fire along the southern, eastern and northern edges of the fire.

Firefighters working on the southwest and western areas of the fire will continue to construct and improve indirect fire line utilizing dozers and hand crews. Along the northwestern portion of the fire including near Locust Cove, crews will continue to improve fire line in preparation for firing operations as needed. Structure protection work will continue in the Clear Creek Road, NC Hwy 80 and Locust Cove areas. Several aviation resources are available and will assist firefighters as visibility allows in holding the fire lines and slowing fire spread with bucket drops. Night operations are scheduled again for this evening.

Acreage: 2,623 – Containment: 30% — Personnel: 389 — Start Date: November 20

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

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

The Southern Area Blue Team is assigned management of the Boteler Fire and also manages the following fires: Camp Branch Fire, Tellico Fire, and Maple Springs. The SA Blue Team is also patrolling/monitoring: Old Roughy Fires, Buck Creek Fire, Falls Fire, Grape Cove Fire, Moses Creek Fire, Jones Gap Fire, Jarrett Knob Fire, Wine Spring Fire, Mulberry Fire, Moss Knob Fire, May Branch Fire, Boardtree Fire, Charley Creek Fire, Nick, Ridge Gap, Ferebee, Cliffside Fire, Whitewater Fire, Howard Gap, Knob, Muskrat, Bullpen, Jones Creek, Cathey Gap, Dick’s Creek

The Boteler Fire remains within present control lines. Firefighters continue patrolling and monitoring the existing firelines. For current road closures in Macon County CLICK HERE

Acreage: 9,036— Containment: 77% — Personnel: 171 – Start Date: October 25

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

CAMP BRANCH FIRE (USFS – OTTO, MACON COUNTY)

The Southern Area Blue Team on the Boteler Fire is assigned management of this fire.

Wayah Road from the interchange with U.S. 64 west of Franklin, is closed to through traffic.

Firefighters are providing structure protection for cabins in the Bear Cove area. Backing and flanking fire will continue with uphill runs as slope and fuels align. Spotting from rollouts and burning snags will continue the threat. Firefighters will continue containment and suppression operations.

Acreage: 1363 – Containment: 20% – Personnel: 90 – Start Date: November 23

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5110/#

MAPLE SPRINGS FIRE (USFS—LAKE SANTEELAH AREA, GRAHAM COUNTY)
The Southern Area Blue Team on the Boteler Fire is assigned management of this fire.

Firefighters will continue monitoring hot spots and completing suppression repair.

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

Acreage: 7,788 — Containment: 71% — Personnel:        185 — Start Date: November 4

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

PARTY ROCK FIRE (NCFS—LAKE LURE AREA, RUTHERFORD, BUNCOMBE, AND HENDERSON COUNTIES)
The Party Rock Fire is now 70% contained but small flames and smoke are still visible within the fire’s footprint, as lingering hot spots flare up. The crews are working diligently to find and extinguish any trouble spots that could threaten containment lines. Crews are also taking steps to make sure the bulldozer lines and hand lines don’t contribute to erosion if significant rain falls.

Rumbling Bald Climbing Access area is closed until further notice. The main attraction, Chimney Rock and Chimney Rock State Park Visitors Center, reopens to the public today. The Welcome Center at Lake Lure is also re-opening today. 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: 70% — Personnel: 306 — Start Date: November 5

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

ROCK MOUNTAIN FIRE (USFS – SOUTHERN NANTAHALA WILDERNESS AREA, NORTH GEORGIA AND CLAY AND MACON COUNTIES IN NC)
Firefighters will begin burnout operations to help bring fire down to containment lines. Burnout operations are planned for the north end of the fire from Chestnut Ridge to Indian Springs, as well as on the southeastern perimeter down toward Patterson Gap west to Abe Gap. Burnout may include use of air and ground resources. Structure groups will continue to hold and improve hand & dozer lines in and around structures in the Patterson Gap and Betty’s Creek Road area.

Mulberry Road, southwest of Franklin in Macon County near the Georgia state line, is still closed to through traffic. To see the latest pre-evacuation and evacuation updates, CLICK HERE.

Acreage: 18,069 — Containment: 35% — Personnel: 567— Start Date: November 9
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5100/#

  

CHESTNUT KNOB FIRE (NCFS—SOUTH MOUNTAINS STATE PARK, BURKE COUNTY)
Continue mop up and holding the lines in all divisions. The team is working on a fireline repair plan to return the South Mountain State Park back to its natural state. The incident management team is preparing a transition plan for the incoming team to manage the fire. Resources are continuing to be released to help with other wildfires in the region.
Acreage: 6,435 — Containment: 80% — Personnel: 154 — Start Date: November 6
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5101/

PINNACLE MOUNTAIN FIRE (SCFS / USFS – PICKENS AND TRANSYLVANIA COUNTIES)
Although firefighters made progress on the north side of the Pinnacle Mountain Fire yesterday, the test fire that was conducted showed that conditions were not favorable for an effective burnout. Light winds and moderate humidity levels should aid crews today as they reinforce firelines throughout this burnout operation which could encompass as much as 500 acres. Crews hope to burn away from containment lines in the Slicking Gap area which is near the NC/SC state line. Yesterday, firefighters constructed a dozer line from the state line to within about 100 yards of the Saluda River. Plans are to complete this line today, which will help reduce the chance of the fire spreading to the west. The fire south of Saluda River is nearing full containment. Crews will continue to monitor and mop up any hot spots.

Closures: Table Rock State Park and the trail system remain closed. Table Rock State Park is expected to reopen in stages once State Park and Forestry Commission officials deem conditions are safe for the public. The Table Rock trail system will remain closed until a damage assessment can be made, hazards cleared and repairs made. Additional information about the park and fire status is available at the Table Rock Visitor Center off Highway 11.

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)

Acreage: 8,903— Containment: 40% — Personnel: 258 — Start Date: November 9
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5108/