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Sunny, dry and windy conditions are expected to continue today with temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s, relative humidity around 20% and wind gusts of 25 to 30 mph, and a 5% chance of rain. The potential for reburn is increasing mainly due to needlecast and light unburned vegetation.   

Needlecast: Pine needles affected by the smoke during the burn will typically start falling in mass several weeks after the fire burned through.  The amount of dried needles on the ground can be significant enough to support reburn where they accumulate on heat sources.  Crews have to monitor firelines and keep them clear of the needles to prevent reburn that may carry fire over the firelines.    

PLEASE BE AWARE: Wildland fire engines and large equipment will continue to be on roads in this area. Please slow down and use caution when driving near them.  

Acreage: 32,400 acres; Containment: 65%; Personnel and Equipment: 203 total personnel; 2 helicopters, 8 Type-6 engines, 3 Type-2 and 6 Type-3 tractor plow units, 1 drone, 1 grader, 1 excavator and 1 ambulance.  

Firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor for heat sources today. Yesterday on the north end of the fire, mop-up operations included fully extinguishing several heat sources near the fireline and today that area will continue to be well patrolled. The drying weather trend is helping firefighters find those heat sources as smoke starts becoming more evident.  There are heat sources revealed by smoke that are in the fire “interior” that do not present a problem and are continued to be monitored.  The drone with mounted infrared equipment is flying again today to continue to identify heat sources.  Thirty loads (over 300 tons) of gravel and rock will be used today to continue repair and reinforcement on several roads in the fire area.  

Air quality: Information on current air quality data for North Carolina is at https://www.airnow.gov/.   

Closures: Catfish Lake Road closure has been lifted.  Please slow down and travel with caution. 

Fire equipment continues to use Catfish Lake Road. 

The road closures on County Line Road and Forest Service Road 203 (Holston Creek Road) remains in effect. Updates to road closures surrounding the fire is at https://drivenc.gov/.  

Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): The TFR continues to be in place over the fire during the hours of 6 AM to midnight. Information is at:  https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_5862.html     

PLEASE NOTE: If there are intrusions into the Temporary Flight Restriction area, firefighting aerial operations must stop. 

Firewise: Information on preparing your home and property to reduce the risk from fire can be found at https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firwise-USA  

Donations: Those interested in donating to firefighters, please consider assisting your local fire departments and /or the Wildland Firefighter Foundation https://wffoundation.org