Despite dry, windy conditions and burn bans across the region, debris fires were set in Graham County during the last week – resulting in crews staying more than active.
Firefighters with Graham County Fire and Rescue – plus both the North Carolina and United States Forest services – were called to a brush fire around 1 p.m., Feb. 26, on Dick Branch Road in the Snowbird area.
The fire was headed toward three homes, but responders were able to knock down some of the flames before forestry crews arrived.
N.C. Forest Service Ranger Frank Cline said the fire was contained around 4:30 p.m., after burning a little over two acres of private property.
Another fire spread from a large debris pile around 4 p.m., Saturday, off Gunter Gap Road in the Stecoah community.
Stecoah Fire and Rescue were first on the scene, with the county and forest service crews arriving shortly thereafter.
Cline said the blaze eventually threatened five homes, including spreading to within 15 feet of one residence. A U.S. Forest Service helicopter was used to drop water onto the fire, which was finally brought under control around 7:30 p.m., after burning three acres of private property.
Sadly, the damage could not remain limited.
Just as the Gunter Gap fire was contained, another fire was reported around 8 p.m., on Locust Cove Road in the Stecoah community. Both Stecoah Fire and Rescue and the N.C. Forest Service responded to the call.
Once the flames were extinguished, the home was reported to be a total loss.
The fire spread into nearby woods and burned less than an acre.
Crews then responded to another brush fire at the intersection of Squirrel Cove and Anthony Branch Road in the Tallulah area at 6:20 p.m., Monday. The fire also started from debris burning and was contained at 7 p.m., after burning less than an acre of private land.
The busy week ended with a hectic Tuesday night, as a heavy storm passed through the county and sparked multiple fires. Responders were dispatched across Graham County due to fallen power lines off Ledbetter Road in the Tallulah community and off Massey Branch Road; while a home caught fire off Cochrans Creek Road.
Due to heavy winds, the storms left over 2,000 county residents without power, according to Duke Energy’s power outage maps.
Publisher/editor Kevin Hensley also contributed to this report.