Firefighters make progress, crews stay active
About 6,000 firefighters, representing all 50 states, worked through Thanksgiving digging lines, laying fire hose, conducting burnout operations, engine and aviation operations, and securing containment lines. By Friday morning firefighters had made progress as they continued to battle blazes at five new wildfires reported this week.
One fire in Clay County was considered 100 percent contained Friday, while the Party Rock fire, near Lake Lure, increased to 70 percent containment after it ignited three weeks ago. At about a dozen other wildfires burning in the region, containment percentages are continuing to increase or remain the same with no fire growth.
Multiple agencies responded to a 25-acre wildfire in Buncombe County near N.C. Highway 151 and Trillium Lane Wednesday night. Within 24 hours the blaze spread across 200 acres, according to the Joint Information Center for Wildfires in Western North Carolina.
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Crews worked to construct dozer lines and completed burnout operations Thursday and also used a helicopter to assist with water drops.
The Martin Trace fire, in Clay County, that was reported at 2:06 a.m. Wednesday, was considered fully contained by Thursday night. One building was lost as firefighters completed fire suppression efforts, according to officials.
Firefighters continued to construct fire lines at the 1,363-acre Camp Branch Fire, which grew to 20 percent containment Friday. One structure was destroyed and one was damaged from this fire.
At the Clear Creek fire just north of Marion in McDowell County, crews increased containment to 30 percent and acreage was reported to be 2,623 acres by Friday.
The amount of firefighters battling the Party Rock fire near Lake Lure has significantly decreased since Monday as many firefighters have been relieved as containment has grown to 70 percent. Friday. Crews expected minimal growth Thursday night with foggy conditions Friday morning.
About 300 firefighters and support staff, down from 900, remained on the fire Friday working to extinguish any trouble spots that could threaten containment lines. With rain in the forecast for Monday-Wednesday, crews are also taking steps to make sure all bulldozer lines and hand lines don't cause any erosion.
No homes or other structures have been lost as the Party Rock fire has scorched 7,171 acres but some people almost did lose their homes, said Link Smith, incident commander for the Party Rock fire.
Despite the increase in containment, crews will work to make sure no structures are lost by finding embers hidden under leaves and other forest debris. They are continuing to use hand-held infrared cameras to locate any remaining heat near the fire lines.
"We owe it to (the residents) to ensure they're not threatened again," Smith said.
Due to fire progression efforts, the Lake Lure Welcome Center and visitor center at Chimney Rock State Park were scheduled to open Friday. A large portion of Chimney Rock State Park will remain closed as firefighters remain on the fire.
Three community meetings are scheduled for Saturday concerning the Party Rock fire. Updates will be held at 10 a.m. at the Lake Lure Fire Department, 622 Memorial Highway, in Lake Lure, noon at the Chimney Rock Fire Department, 109 Terrace Drive, also in Lake Lure, and 2 p.m. at the Bat Cave Baptist Church, 5095 Chimney Rock Road in Hendersonville.
Crews continue to monitor containment lines that are holding at the Chestnut Knob fire in Burke County, a 6,435-acre blaze that's 75 percent contained. At Boteler fire, a 9,000-acre blaze in Clay County that began more than a month ago and is at 77 percent containment, firefighters are remaining active to clear freshly fallen leaves.
Meteorologists said a Friday cold front would push toward the eastern part of the state pushing most of the smoke near the Triad and Charlotte regions with air quality improving in the mountains and near the Tennessee border. Air quality improved to Code Orange in Buncombe County and about seven other western counties Friday, according to the N.C. Department of Air Quality.
Air quality was expected to improve Saturday as north to northwest winds bring fresh, dry air into the western region. Code Red conditions remain possible immediately downwind of the larger fires in Macon and McDowell counties.
By Sunday, a high pressure system will move in causing winds to become light. Smoke will drift southward then spread out in the area near the fires in the afternoon.
