Update: High winds predicted for area Friday night.
UPDATE (noon Friday, March 31) — A hand crew led by U.S. Forest Service personnel arrived on scene near Granny Squirrel late Friday morning to mop up in anticipation of high winds predicted for later Friday. This applies to controlled burns surrounding Cherokee County, in Clay and Graham counties, according to U.S. Forest Service personnel.
The date for the burns and the actual number of acres burned will depend upon weather conditions, according to a U.S. Forest Service news 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. today through 8 p.m. Saturday. Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph are expected. Winds will become more westerly during the day on Saturday. This will affect portions of southwest North Carolina and east Tennessee. Winds may drop below advisory criteria for a few hours early Saturday morning as they shift to a more westerly direction and strengthen again during the day, according to the National Weather Service.
A burn ban has not been issued, but forestry officials advise to keep a watch on conditions and consult local fire authorities before attempting any burning in the affected areas.
The Tusquitee Ranger District of the Nantahala National Forest began a 3,868-acre prescribed burn operations on Wednesday in Clay County. Operations are planned to conclude today (Friday).
The two operations are located 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.
The public should be aware of the potential for smoke in the area and drive with caution around working prescribed fire personnel in the area.
Meanwhile, the Cheoah Ranger District is 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 State Highway 129, will be temporarily closed for visitor safety. The trails will be re-opened once it is determined that conditions are safe for passage through the area.
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GRANNY SQUIRREL — During a day when the Valley River Valley was already surrounded by columns of smoke from controlled burns, a 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 on 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 and to monitor weather conditions closely and to check with local fire agencies about fire permits.
No structures were threatened and there were no reported injuries.