Single Publication

5,335 acres | 79% containment | 268 personnel assigned

Highlights: Firefighters continue to perform mop-up operations, extinguishing any lingering hotspots, as needed. Crews hold and improve containment and completed fireline. Fire activity is minimal; however, some visible smoke may be present in the area where the fire is most active in the northwest perimeter near Rattlesnake Knob.

Fuel reduction activities are being performed around residences in the area of the Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters as a protection measure, with plans to continue fuel reduction work around residences located 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. Aerial resources continue to conduct flights to monitor for changing fire conditions and are ready to respond if needed.

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Resources assigned to the fire include four 20-person handcrews, 19 Engines 2 dozers, and 1 water tenders. Aerial resources include two helicopters.

Weather & Fire Behavior: Overcast conditions are expected today as a storm system passes to our south. Although there is a slight chance of light rain throughout the day, overall humidity will be under 30%. Cloud cover will keep high temperatures mainly in the 50s with southeasterly winds at 5 to 15 mph.

Where a heat source is present, surface fuels have become dry enough to allow limited fire spread. The primary fire behavior characteristic 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 fuels, such as newly fallen leaves. Heavy fuel concentrations will retain heat and serve as future heat sources. Areas of isolated smoldering, primarily in heavy woody fuels, such as log ends and snags will continue until a season-ending rain event occurs.

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.