11/28/16 - Rock Mountain Fire - 8:30am Update

For a downloadable, printable version of this update, click here.

Yesterday’s Activities:  Fire personnel successfully completed strategic burnout operations along the last sections of open fireline. After a chilly and smoke-choked morning, firefighters had a good window to initiate burnouts from the base of Patterson Gap along containment lines into North Carolina, and along several of the northeastern and northern edges of the fire. The helicopter with aerial ignition equipment targeted interior pockets of unburnt forest which, if left unburnt, could pose a threat to containment lines. Additional hand crews arrived to assist with holding and patrolling containment lines, while other fire personnel continued installing water bars as part of suppression repair.

Today’s Operations:  Fire personnel will strengthen the depth of containment lines with burnout operations as weather permits. Six hand crews and six engines were added to the total number of resources. They will assist securing yesterday's firing operations and be fully engaged in mop up and patrol. Crews will continue with fire suppression repair objectives in areas where the fire is considered contained. 

Fire managers are very concerned that today's predicted 20 miles per hour wind gusts could cause dead and fire weakened trees to fall unpredictably in areas where crews are patrolling. Fire weakened trees can fall unexpectedly and there are documented cases where these trees, also known as 'snags', have caused serious injury or death. Contingency plans are in place so that when the winds and rain arrive, firefighters have protected areas to find safe shelter.

Above all else, the Incident Commander and USFS Agency Administrator's goal is that every firefighter comes home at the end of each long workday alive and well.

Weather:  A low pressure storm system will approach our area from the west, bringing rain to the fire later Monday and continuing through midweek.  With the rain will come much higher relative humidity and gusty winds at times.  At least three quarters of an inch of rain is expected by Tuesday morning with more to follow.  Today’s high temperatures will be 53 to 58 degrees.  The minimum relative humidity will be 50-60%.  Winds will be out of the southeast 5 to 10 miles per hour with gusts to 25 miles per hour.  The chance of rain is 40% increasing to 80% Monday night.

Evacuations:

Rabun County

• Pre-evacuation for Patterson Gap north of Ramah Darom Church Camp

• Pre-evacuation of all roads at Bettys Creek, north of Tom Wilson Rd to the state line; this includes Messer Creek Rd, Hambidge Ct, High Darnell Rd, Bryes Place Ln, Towns County - Call 706-896-7460 for further information

Closures:

• Forest Service Road 70.

• The Appalachian Trail between Dicks Creek Gap, Georgia, to Rock Gap, North Carolina

• An area closure has been issued for the Nantahala wilderness area

• Patterson Gap Road from Betty’s Creek Road to Poplar Gap (USFS road)

• Betty’s Creek Road from Patterson Gap to the North Carolina state line (Rabun County)

• Mulberry from the North Carolina state line to Pagonia Drive/Beasley Gap (Macon County)

For a downloadable, printable version of this progression map, click here.

For a downloadable, printable version of this IR map, click here.