Helicopter returns for water after an air drop on Wednesday.
Andrews – The lightning-caused Collett Ridge Fire is 59 acres in size and remains at zero-percent containment due to the rugged terrain and limited accessibility.
The 59 acres figure was revised down from 90 acres as N.C. Forest Service was able to fly a mapping drone with infrared capabilities and provided a more accurate fire perimeter.
The U.S. Forest Service and the North Carolina Forest Service are managing the fire under unified command.
The Collett Ridge Fire had some growth to the northwest Friday and Saturday as it moved onto a spur ridge off of Collett Ridge. At times Saturday, the smoke was heavier as the up to 1-foot flames length backed down through pitch pine fuels.
Total personnel assigned was including one 20-person hand crew, three engines, two helicopters, one air attack platform, and overhead personnel.
“The safety of our firefighters and the public is our first priority,” said David Ilse, acting district ranger for the Cheoah-Tusquitee Ranger District. “We are using aerial resources and are working to place crews safely on the ground.”
The fire started on top of Collett Ridge on Oct. 23 and has been backing down the ridge to the north. Thursday’s fire behavior was minimal due to the cloud cover and higher relative humidity over the fire area. The fire grew on the northwest corner with backing fire with 6-inch flame length.
On Thursday, firefighting crews scouted the terrain and area fuels off the Bolden Creek drainage to determine where best to put in a fire line, plan safety zones, and escape routes. Additionally, a helicopter dropped buckets of water on the hot spots to knock out the heat to lay down the fire.
Friday’s operations consisted of establishing hand line from Collett Creek Road to Bolden Creek and then from Bolden Branch Road over to Lords Way down to Junaluska Road using trails, creeks, and existing road system. Aviation crews worked the fire edge as needed throughout the day.
The fire crews completed 100 percent of the hand lines targeted for Friday’s operations. No aerial firefighting support was needed.
“This fire will be on the ground for a while due to the terrain and accessibility issues making it unsafe for direct attack,” said Incident Commander Peter Myers. “Another factor is that the trees continue to drop their leaves adding to the fuel on the ground. It will take a significant rainfall to make a difference.”
Saturday, fire crews will continue to build handline from Lords Way down toward Junaluska Road and then east along the old powerline corridor. The fire’s management team will continue to use aviation resources as needed to halt the fire from moving north toward Bolden Branch Road.
For updates about the Collett Ridge Fire, follow the National Forests in North Carolina at www.facebook.com/nfsnc for additional updates.