10 acres burn in Granny Squirrel
Murphy – Dry, windy conditions late last week had western North Carolina leading the state in the number of acres burned by wildfires, according to data.
The N.C. Forest Service responded to 91 wildfires across western North Carolina on Saturday. The Asheville, Lenoir and Sylva districts accounted for most of the wildfire activity.
State-collected data for March 30 showed western North Carolina accounting for six of 20 wildfires throughout the state, consuming 50 acres of a total of 64.3 acres burned. High winds throughout Saturday led to many downed or damaged power lines, which provided ignition sources for several fires. Escaped debris burning was also a factor.
“Extremely high wind speeds, warm temperatures and very low relative humidity created extremely challenging conditions for firefighters,” Regional Forester Greg Smith said. “NCFS resources were essentially maxed out due to the sheer number of fires that were ignited all across western North Carolina.”
The N.C. Forest Service will continue to face challenges associated with resource capacity due to increased fire activity, high employee turnover and long-term vacancies, the agency reported.
“We are asking folks to please help us prevent further wild-land fires by postponing any outdoor burning. Otherwise, we’ll see more of this in the coming days,” Smith said. Fire danger is predicted to be high and, in some cases, critical in the Foothills and Mountains early in the week.
As of 2:30 p.m. Sunday, the N.C. Forest Service had successfully put containment lines around all known fires that ignited Saturday. Of those fires, 10 were still considered active as firefighters continued to work toward full containment.
The public is reminded to keep drones away from wildfires. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire compromises the safety of pilots and interferes with firefighting efforts. For the latest information about wildfires across the state, visit https://ncforestservice.gov/fire_control/sit_report.htm.
Granny Squirrel
A hand crew led by U.S. Forest Service personnel arrived on scene near Granny Squirrel late Friday morning to mop up a 10-acre wildfire in anticipation of high winds predicted for later Friday into Saturday.
During a day when the Valley River Valley was already surrounded by columns of smoke from controlled burns, the fire off U.S. 19 near Granny Squirrel was also apparently deliberately set – this time unlawfully. District 9 County Ranger Phillip Raby of the N.C. Forest Service said someone apparently lit a pile of tires on fire Thursday afternoon.
The fire started about 1 mile east of where U.S. 19 narrows from four lanes to two east of Andrews. The location is on a level lot with a driveway where people have been known to congregate to socialize.
As the tire blaze built, it spread over most of the lot before sweeping up a steep hillside and over the ridge top toward Rocky Creek Road to the north.
Raby spotted the fire and was first on scene. He quickly summoned assistance, which came from local fire departments, other N.C. Forest Service firefighters as well as crews from the U.S. Forest Service, including a Bridge crew of inmates.
A bulldozer was deployed on the ground and aloft, a spotter plane directed drops from a helicopter that ferried water to the blaze. By 7 p.m. the blaze, dubbed the U.S. 19 Fire, was 100 percent contained at 10 acres. Crews planned to monitor the area overnight, although breezy conditions were developing and may complicate matters.
“It’s fire season,” Raby said, urging residents to be careful, monitor weather conditions closely and check with local fire agencies about fire permits.
No structures were threatened, and there were no reported injuries.
Controlled burns
The date for the controlled (also called prescribed) burns and the actual number of acres burned depend upon weather conditions, according to a U.S. Forest Service release. Burning days are changeable because the proper conditions are needed – wind and relative humidity are key factors in fire behavior, safety and smoke control. Prescribed burning will only occur when environmental and safety conditions permit.
The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory effective 8 p.m. Friday through 8 p.m. Saturday. Southwest winds 20-30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph were expected.
The Tusquitee Ranger District of the Nantahala National Forest began a 3,868-acre prescribed burn operations on March 29 in Clay County. Operations planned to conclude Friday.
The two operations are in the Valley Ridge Mountains in the Brushy Ridge and Philips Ridge areas. Impacted Forest Service Roads include 340A1, 340A2, 340C, 427, 427A and 6274. Impacted trails include TR72, TR388, TR387 and TR632.
Meanwhile, the Cheoah Ranger District was conducting a 1,295-acre prescribed burn in the Yellow Creek area of Graham County that started Feb. 20 and will conclude April 15 to improve wildlife habitat and reduce the risk of wildfires.
During the burn, a portion of the Yellow Creek Mountain Trail, TR48 and the Yellow Creek Falls Trail off U.S. 129, will be temporarily closed for visitor safety. The trails will be reopened once it is determined that conditions are safe for passage through the area.