State and federal crews are battling a wildfire that started on western North Carolina’s Nantahala National Forest — one of four national forests in the state.
WLOS-TV reported that the Collett Ridge Fire had grown to 52 acres by Wednesday the 25th and was burning toward Junaluska Road. Earlier today it was estimated at 90 acres. Both USFS and North Carolina Forest Service personnel are working on the fire.
“Given the rough and rugged terrain, an airtanker has been ordered to assist the two helicopters and other firefighting resources on scene,” officials said.
The Southern Scoop News reported that the fire was ignited by lightning on the top of Collett Ridge on October 23 and has been backing down the ridge to the north.
David Ilse, Acting District Ranger for the Cheoah-Tusquitee Ranger District, said fire growth today was minimal because of the cloud cover and higher relative humidity over the fire area. “We are using aerial resources and are working to place crews safely on the ground,” he added.
The fire grew on the northwest corner, with backing fire and 6-inch flame lengths. Crews yesterday scouted the terrain and fuels of the Bolden Creek drainage to determine where best to put in a fireline and locations for planned safety zones. A helicopter with a bucket dropped water on hot spots.
Crews were establishing hand line today from Collett Creek Road to Bolden Creek and then from Bolden Branch Road over to Lords Way down to Junaluska Road — incorporating trails, creeks, and the existing road system. Aviation crews were working the fire perimeter throughout the day.
Earlier this month, fire officials warned residents about the dry conditions. North Carolina Forest Service District Ranger Brian Rogers said at this time of year, even yard cleanup can be a fire risk.
“If they’re going to be burning leaves or debris, make sure that they have tools on hand,” he said, “water hose, shovels, buckets, something that they can extinguish their fires with and make sure they’re fully out.”
He predicted the fire risk would worsen if rainfall amounts didn’t improve.
“Some of the areas here in western North Carolina are 10 to 25 percent below normal precipitation,” said Rogers.
Yesterday North Carolina Forest Service Ranger Bo Dossett told ABC45 News that conditions are extremely dry and fire-prone. “Sometimes when there are big dead trees on a ridgeline and we get long periods of dry weather like this, those dead trees can become a new source of ignition when we get lightning like we did last week. Stream flows are down, water tables in the forest are lower. It makes fires harder to control,” he said.