Local, state and federal firefighters were deployed to opposite ends of Cherokee County on Feb. 6, keeping two woodland fires at bay until weekend rains arrived.
Fire conditions were nearly perfect for woodland fires early last week. The air was dry and wind sometimes stiff, with fallen leaves still on the ground. Firefighters knew what they faced and attacked the two blazes aggressively.
Fire agencies deployed bulldozers and helicopters, along with hand crews and help from local volunteer fire departments. They remained at the fire scenes until wet weather set in by the weekend.
A vehicle fire sparked a woodland fire off of Joe Whitener Road between Grape Creek and Ogreeta on Feb. 6. That fire, now reported at 100 percent containment, consumed 65 acres. The N.C. Forest Service was the lead agency, with help from Cherokee County fire departments.
A wildfire of unknown origin grew to 210 acres off Healy Fields Road northwest of Western Carolina Regional Airport in Andrews on Feb. 6. The U.S. Forest Service took the lead in controlling that blaze.
The fire, named the Bonnie Brae Incident, was discovered at 6:15 a.m. Feb. 6 and continued to grow until rainy weather set in later in the week. Estimated cost to control the Bonnie Brae Incident was put at $150,000.
There were no reports of structure damage or injuries from either blaze, aside from the property damage where the Joe Whitener Road fire originated.
It was the most active week for firefighters in the county since the Collet Ridge Fire near Andrews burned more than 5,500 acres in November 2023.