CURRENT SITUATION
Acreage of all large fires increased by 1,658 acres to over
40,000 acres. Cloudy conditions yesterday allowed firefighters to make
additional progress on containment. The low pressure system that brought cloudy
and favorable conditions moved out of the area this morning, and a high
pressure system returned to the region that will bring clearing skies and lower
relative humidity. Ground-level smoke will remain a concern over the next few
days. Winds along ridge tops are expected to increase tomorrow into Thursday
and may increase fire behavior.
AIR QUALITY INFORMATION
A code red air quality alert remains in effect today for
Asheville Valleys (under 4,000ft in elevation). A code red alert for AQI (Air
Quality Index) means everyone may begin to experience health effects; members
of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Limit your time
outdoors today. Keep windows and doors closed in your home and run your HVAC.
BURNING RESTRICTIONS
A total fire ban is in effect for all lands in the Nantahala
and Pisgah National Forests; however, commercially available heating equipment,
portable lanterns, or stoves that use gas or pressurized liquid fuel are
allowed. More information is at www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd524246.
A North Carolina Forest Service ban on all open burning in
all 25 Western NC counties. More information is at www.cforestservice.gov/news_pubs/newsdesk_2016.htm#
1107161.
TODAYS
UPDATES ON MAJOR AREA FIRES
MAPLE SPRINGS AND OLD ROUGHY FIRES
(USFS-LAKE SANTEELAH AREA, GRAHAM COUNTY)
Firefighters are mopping up and securing containment lines
on the Maple Springs and Old Roughy fires. On Monday, aircraft were able to
drop over 70,000 gallons of water on the western and southern flanks of the
Maple Springs fire in the Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness. Those two areas
remain the most active portions of the fire, which is creeping west into the
wilderness area toward the Tennessee border.
Maple Springs: Acreage: 7,515 - Containment: 15% -
Personnel: 355 - Start Date: November 4
Old Roughy: Acreage: 657 - Containment:
80% - Start Date: November 8
Tellico Fire (USFS-NANTAHALA GORGE
AREA, Swain and Macon Counties)
Crews accomplished a lot yesterday, holding, mopping up, and
patrolling containment lines around the fire's perimeter. In the last remaining
places where the fire was moving downslope to firelines-on the south side near
Shields Creek Road, on the southwest side near Queens Creek, and on the
northwest side by Johnson Cove-the fire has reached the containment lines and
is no longer progressing.
Acreage: 13,679 - Containment: 68% -
Personnel: 464 - Start Date: November 3
Boteler Fire (USFS-CHUNKY GAL AREA,
Clay County)
Yesterday, firefighters had another productive day,
completing fireline on the northeast corner of the fire and mopping up
remaining hot spots along Hwy 64. Today, firefighters will continue to improve
containment lines and search for heat sources, such as smoldering stumps. The
blasting crew plans to remove more hazard trees along the fire line between
Passmore Spur and Nelson Ridge Road.
Acreage: 8,967 - Containment: 43% -
Personnel: 366 - Start Date: October 25
PARTY ROCK FIRE (NCFS-LAKE LURE AREA,
RUTHERFORD, BUNCOMBE, AND HENDERSON COUNTIES)
The weather has not been conducive for large fire growth the
past couple days, but those conditions will change later this week. Fire
managers are now planning for this fire growth potential by establishing
contingency lines should primary containment lines not hold. In addition, they
are working with the structure protection group to ensure fire department
engines are strategically placed within communities in the fire's projected
path to protect homes.
Acreage: 3,744 - Containment: 15% -
Personnel: 334 - Start Date: November 5
CHESTNUT KNOB FIRE (NCFS-SOUTH
MOUNTAINS STATE PARK, BURKE COUNTY)
20 bucket drops were made with a helicopter and 10 drops
were made with fixed-wing aircraft yesterday which helped with containment
efforts. Today, crews will continue to establish and improve containment lines.
Smokey conditions are expected to persist in the area over the next few days,
with the heaviest ground-level smoke in the morning hours.
Acreage: 3,900 - Containment: 20% -
Personnel: 118 - Start Date: November 6
ROCK MOUNTAIN FIRE (NORTHWEST OF
CLAYTON, GA)
6,487 acre fire is 10% contained and is moving north towards
the Southern Nantahala Wilderness. More info at: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5100/
EVACUATIONS
AND CLOSURES - NO CHANGES TODAY
Please
visit Inciweb websites for the most up to date information:
HENDERSON
COUNTY Mandatory Evacuations: communities located along Highway
64/74-A from Henderson County Line to Highway 9, Highway 9 to Shumont Road and
all Henderson County homes located on Shumont Road.
Evacuation
Shelter: Bat Cave Baptist Church located at 5095 Chimney Rock Road,
Hendersonville, NC
SWAIN
COUNTY Evacuations Lifted: Only residents are allowed on the
following roads: Big Dog, Gassaway, Licklog, Long Branch, Luther Bingham,
Mason, Morgan, Northern Partridge, Silver Mine, East Silver Ridge, Wesser
Creek, Wilkes.
MACON
COUNTY Evacuations Lifted: Only residents are allowed on Deweese
and Partridge Creek Roads.
CLAY
COUNTY Evacuations Lifted.
Nantahala
National Forest CLOSURES
Major closures on the Nantahala
include:
- Joyce
Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness
- Wesser
Creek Trail
- Chunky
Gal Trail from Glade Gap to Tusquitee Gap
- Whitewater
Falls Trail and portions of Foothills Trail
- Benton
MacKaye Trail east of Beech Gap
- Appalachian
Trail from the Nantahala River at Wesser south to Rock Gap Trailhead on
Forest Road 67
Call the US Forest Service office for
more information on road and trail closures: 828-257-4200
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