Single Publication

5,335 acres | 71% containment | 275 personnel assigned

Highlights: Hand line work has been completed around the perimeter of the fire area and crews will continue to improve containment lines and perform mop-up operations, such as extinguishing any lingering hotspots, as needed. A helicopter made multiple water drops yesterday working to put out hotspots observed west of Collett Ridge. Firefighters will reduce forest fuels around residences in the area between Genesis Lane and Bear Dog Drive as a protection measure, with plans to continue residential fire fuels reduction work south of Pisgah Road to the McClelland Creek Road and Snider Road area, and along the south side of Junaluska Road towards Junaluska Baptist Church. 

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Resources assigned to the fire include four 20-person handcrews,19 engines, 1 dozer, and 1 water tender. Aerial resources include two helicopters.

Weather & Fire Behavior: Fair weather is expected today as dry high pressure settles over the region. There will be a layer of high-level cloudiness that will filter the sunshine, resulting in partial-to-full shading at times. The airmass is very dry, so the humidity may still bottom out in the 20% range. Humidity recovery along the ridges tonight will also be poor. Winds will favor a normal upslope, up-valley flow during the day, and downslope, downvalley at night. Ridgetop winds are expected to be variable.

Surface fuels have become dry in the top layers, allowing limited fire spread potential where a heat source is present. Until sufficient precipitation occurs, expect areas of isolated smoldering, primarily in heavy woody fuels such as log ends and snags. Heavy fuel concentrations will retain heat and serve as future heat sources. The primary fire behavior characteristic for the day continues to be isolated smoldering. Smoldering leaf litter may kindle to flame with a little wind and/or sunshine, and burning snags may fall into fresh, dry fuels.

Air Quality: Smoke may occur in nearby communities. Air quality information provided by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is available at airquality.climate.ncsu.edu/.

Burn Bans: Due to increased fire risk, the N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning until further notice in several counties in western North Carolina. For more information visit https://www.ncforestservice.gov/fire_control/sit_report.htm.

The U.S. Forest Service has implemented fire restrictions across the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests. To view the closure order visit www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/nfsnc/alerts-notices.

Temporary Flight Restriction: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Collett Ridge Fire area. If you fly, we can’t. Aircraft or drone intrusions into the restricted airspace endangers aircrews conducting fire operations and aerial resources are grounded for safety. This unnecessarily places aircrews and ground fire crews at risk in a dynamic and dangerous fire environment.

Closures: For public and firefighter safety the following road and area closures are in effect due to increased fire activity and suppression operations in the area from Big Stamp east to Shinbone Ridge to Signal Bald and a road closure is in effect from the intersection of Little Fires Creek Road, 340B, and Fires Creek Road, 340. The Rim Trail is temporarily closed for approximately 7 miles from Big Stamp to Shinbone.