Lightning cited as culprit of multi-day blaze
Santeetlah – Around 5:30 p.m., Saturday, a hiker reported a fire near the junction of the Jenkins Meadow and Haoe Lead trails, which sit around 4,000 feet in elevation; 3 ½ miles above Maple Springs Road; and inside the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.
U.S. Forest Service fighters Brent Eller, Forrest Kuntz and Austin Henderson responded to the scene, discovering that the fire had been started by a lightning strike.
The fire rekindled overnight and Sunday, began to spread. On Monday, more firefighters responded to the fire – along with a helicopter that dropped water on the fire from Santeetlah Lake.
As of Tuesday evening, the blaze – now being called the "Haoe Lead Fire" – was estimated to be 500 acres in size and was 0% contained. Additional personnel was scheduled to be dispatched Wednesday.
U.S. Forest Service Public Information Officer Lucy Swaffield informed The Graham Star of trail closures for the following, due to the fire:
* Slickrock, Trail 42
* Haoe Lead, Trail 53
* Jenkins Meadow, Trail 53A
* Stratton Bald, Trail 54
* Naked Ground, Trail 55
* Hangover Lead, Trail 56
* Wolf Laurel, Trail 57
* Strawberry Knob Trail, 217 H
The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Loop Trail was closed Tuesday evening.
Other fires
Aside from the massive blaze inside the forest, a pile of mulch caught fire from spontaneous combustion Monday, near Upper Sawyers Creek Road on N.C. 28. The N.C. Forest Service and Stecoah Fire and Rescue contained this fire, which burned less than an acre.
Shortly after that, heavy smoke was reported in the Tsali area. A N.C. Forest Service scout plane located a fire in the Mouse Branch section. When U.S. Forest Service firefighters reached the fire, they discovered it also had been started by lightning. The fire was contained at 25 acres.
Tuesday, heavy winds downed a power line off Lower Sawyers Creek Road. The ensuing sparks created a fire that threatened multiple homes on Hallandson Hideway and White Oak Road.
Both Graham County and Stecoah fire and rescues joined forces with the N.C. and U.S. Forest services to fight the flames. A large helicopter was dispatched to drop water on fire, while a U.S. Forest Service dozer and multiple fire engines fought the blaze on the ground. The fire was contained around 6:15 p.m, after consuming nine acres.
A small brush fire also sent personnel from Graham County Fire and Rescue – as well as the U.S. Forest Service – to the East Buffalo community around 4:30 p.m., Tuesday. After burning one acre, the fire was contained a short time later.