Smoke spreads across WNC as fires remain active

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A thick, hazy layer of smoke lingered Tuesday across Western North Carolina with many roads, trails and state parks remaining closed as thousands of firefighters continued a fierce battle against roughly 16 wildfires.

People could also be heard coughing, seen rubbing their eyes or heard blowing their noses as Asheville and surrounding western towns have been experiencing poor air quality, according to Buncombe County Health and Human Services officials.

“With the current air quality level in the 'unhealthy' range in the Asheville area, even healthy people may experience symptoms," said Dr. Jennifer Mullendoor, Health and Human Services medical director. "Everyone should limit their time spent outdoors. Wildfire smoke can be particularly dangerous for children, older adults, and those with heart or lung disease. Individuals in these sensitive groups should avoid all outdoor physical activity at this time."

Party Rock fire causes another evacuation

Anyone with shortness of breath, fits of coughing, difficulty breathing, chest tightness or chest pain should contact their health care provider or call 911.

The North Carolina Air Quality Center reported Asheville and much of Western North Carolina were in the Code Red category with four counties in Code Purple, the most severe category, on Tuesday.

By Wednesday, elevations below 4,000 feet in Asheville's valleys were predicted to be Code Orange, meaning that its unhealthy for sensitive groups. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy extertion. Elevations above 4,000 feet should expect good air quality as it will be considered Code Green.

Across the region, firefighters have made progress as containment percentages have increased among several fires, but with windy conditions, warmer temperatures, low humidity levels and no rain in the forecast crews will have to remain vigilant to keep flames from spreading.

In all, just under 46,000 acres were burning Tuesday, according to the InciWeb Incident Information System, which is compiling information from state and federal forest agencies. Flames spread about 2,000 acres in total for 15 active wildfires since Monday.

According to Gov. Pat McCory, 1,600 firefighters have battled 19 wildfires in Western North Carolina with the cost of resources exceeding more than $10 million since Oct. 23, with 1,780 structures threatened and one structure sustaining damage. Two structures have been destroyed.

Arson is suspected in a majority of the Nantahala National Forest fires, according to the U.S. Forest Service and incident command teams. A lightning strike started one fire and some were thought to be human-caused, such as campfires left unattended or cigarettes tossed without being completed extinguished. The Party Rock fire near Lake Lure remains under investigation.

The Party Rock fire grew to 4,480 acres and was 19 percent contained, according to an update Tuesday evening.

Firefighters were hoping for less active fire behavior overnight, but winds were expected to pick back up Wednesday.

A heavy smoke inversion was helping keep fire activity minimal Tuesday morning, according to public information officer Andy Lyon.

Firefighters continued to construct and maintain containment lines and protect structures throughout the day. They were focusing their efforts on the north side of the fire near the Buncombe/Rutherford county lines.

"We're being aggressive and the fire is being well-behaved but we don't expect it to stay that way," Lyon said Tuesday morning. "We expect some wind later in the week to push the fire to the north. We want to be ready for that."

Nearly 70 square miles ablaze in WNC

On Tuesday, the fire was continuing to back down Round Top Mountain near the Chimney Rock community. But officials say this is the type of fire they like to see.

"For firefighters, that’s the best kind of fire you can have," Lyon said. "You have time to prep the structures and get leaves and other debris away from the houses."

However, as some leaves remain on trees, firefighters have had to continue cleaning containment lines to avoid leaves falling onto a smoldering forest floor and creating fresh fuel that can reignite, he said.

The same is true for several fires burning in the Nantahala National Forest, said John Bearer, a fire information officer with the Southern Area Incident Management Team, a cooperative effort between local, state and federal authorities.

As firefighters have been working to fight the blazes they have been walking around containment lines with leaf blowers to keep fallen leaves away. For fires with flames less than 3 feet crews have been working by hand to create fire lines but for flames between 3-7 feet equipment like bulldozers and tractor plows have been used.

Additionally, firefighters battling the Boteler fire in Clay County, the second-largest fire in the region, have been blasting dead trees that have become hazardous, according to Joe Mazzeo, a fire information officer with the Southern Area Incident Management Team.

On Monday, crews took care of 16 trees and expected to continue blasting Tuesday to secure those areas from becoming hot again, he said. The Boteler fire was 8,967 acres and 43 percent contained by midday Tuesday.

Officials were also unsure whether they would were going to be able to get helicopters and airplanes airborne to drop water on the flames Tuesday. Due to windy and smoky conditions Monday, air support was used sparingly, and similar conditions were expected Tuesday.

Even though flames were holding steady Tuesday officials said they expect to see rapid fire growth later in the week.

Slightly stronger winds, especially on ridgetops, could affect fire behavior as the smoke clears and the sun warms and dries south-facing slopes. The Boteler fire and Nantahala Branch fires incident meteorologist expected clear skies by midmorning, which would benefit aerial operations.

However, a strong cold front Saturday will bring little to no moisture to the fire.

Gusty winds from the southwest will start Thursday and could push the Party Rock fire to the north and northeast toward Weed Patch Mountain and the Gray Rock community. Windy conditions could also move flames toward the evacuated communities of Rumbling Bald Resort. With temperatures expected to warm into the low 70s and relative humidity levels dropping below 30 percent, rapid fire growth is anticipated.

"As the lower humidity continues to dry out the fuels and the wind increases the rate of fire will spread," Mazzeo said.

Many evacuations were ordered last week as flames threatened several structures but some residents were able to return to their homes Tuesday if they had been evacuated in the neighborhoods of Boys Camp Road near the Party Rock fire,  according to a news release from the Henderson County sheriff's office.

Additionally, evacuations were lifted for residents in Swain and Macon County.

Residents were allowed on the following roads in Swain County: Big Dog, Gassaway, Licklog, Long Branch, Luther Bingham, Mason, Morgan, Northern Partridge, Silver Mine, East Silver Ridge, Wesser Creek, Wilkes. Residents in Macon County were allowed on Deweese and Partridge Creek Roads.

A total fire ban remains in effect in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests until further notice. A Forest Service ban on all open burning in Clay, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties is also in effect.

Officials are urging people to be as careful as they can with fire.

"Another fire can easily start and we don't want someone to pay for one of these," Bearer said.

Fire having 'substantial' impact on Chimney Rock businesses

WNC forest fires 

This is the latest information available about active fires in U.S. forests and North Carolina state forests, acres involved and containment percentage.

Tellico fire, Nantahala area: 13,679 acres, 68 percent contained.

Knob fire, 8 miles west of Franklin: 1,130 acres, 94 percent contained.

May Branch, west of Nantahala Lake: 175 acres, 98 percent contained.

Dick's Creek, 2 miles northwest of Sylva: 728 acres, 94 percent contained.

Cliffside fire, 3 miles northwest of Highlands: 101 acres, 98 percent contained.

Muskrat Valley fire, 7.5 miles southwest of Franklin:103 acres, 90 percent contained.

Old Roughy, north of Santeetlah Lake: 657 acres, 80 percent contained.

Maple Springs, north of Santeetlah Lake: 7,515 acres, 15 percent contained.

Boteler, 6 miles east of Hayesville: 8,967 acres, 43 percent contained.

Party Rock, Chimney Rock: 3,744 acres, 15 percent contained.

Chestnut Knob, South Mountains State Park, 10 miles south of Morganton: 3,900 acres, 20 percent contained.

Moses Creek, northeast of Cullowhee: 103 acres, 98 percent contained.

Avey Branch, north of Santeetlah Lake: 1,200 acres, 17 percent contained.

Incident resources for Boteler and Nantahala Branch fires: 21 crews, 64 engines, 6 helicopters, 1 fixed wing, 16 dozers, 4 water tenders, 891 personnel 

Source: InciWeb Incident Management System