Successful containment began Sunday
Santeetlah – The Haoe Lead Fire started from an April 12 lightning strike, around 4,000 feet in elevation and near the intersection of the Jenkins Meadow and Haoe Lead trails.
Since then, the fire has steadily made its way toward Joyce Kilmer Forest – following the path of the Maple Springs Fire in 2016.
As of Tuesday, the fire has burned 3,103 acres of U.S. Forest Service land. Containment of the fire began Sunday and by Tuesday – thanks in part to heavy rainfall Monday night – was at 29%
Cheoah-Tusquitee District Ranger Brian Browning said that the burned over area left by the previous fire is just one of many obstacles facing firefighters. The earlier fire left a lot of downed trees on the forest floor, as well as standing dead trees – creating a danger to firefighters, especially with high winds on several recent days.
Browning stated that with extreme fire danger, all the dry fuel and low humidity has made the fire burn faster and hotter in the steep, rugged terrain. The fire is under wilderness limits, which also heavily restricts the use of mechanized equipment on the ground.
Two large helicopters – a Chinook and a Blackhawk – are being used to drop water on the fire from nearby Santeetlah Lake. A dozer will be used to construct fire lines outside the wilderness area. There were 179 firefighters reported as actively working the fire Tuesday.
Browning also discussed the special efforts to protect the grove of large trees in Joyce Kilmer Forest, the Stewart Cabin – which is on the National Historic Register – and Santeetlah Hunter Shelter. Swan Cabin is not expected to be in the fire perimeter.
The fire has crossed Horse Cove Branch and Little Santeetlah Creek, which flows through Joyce Kilmer Forest. The next line of defense will be Big Santeetlah Creek Road No. 81, which begins at Santeetlah Gap.
If the fire crosses Big Santeetlah Creek Road, the remaining line of defense will be the Cherohala Skyway.
More area fires
A fire escaped from some land clearing near Topton – where Graham, Cherokee, and Macon counties join – on the afternoon of April 17.
Firefighters from the N.C. Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service and the three counties affected responded.
The fire was contained after burning 65 acres of private land.
Around 3:15 P.M., Friday, a downed power line started a fire on Dillard Orr Road just off Old U.S. 129 near Robbinsville. Graham County Fire and Rescue, N.C. Forest Service and U.S. Forest Service brought the fire under control after it burned less than an acre.
The fire threatened four homes.
Graham County Fire and Rescue members also assisted Swain County on the Sam Davis Road Fire in the Alarka community. Local personnel were dismissed from the blaze Monday.