Santeetlah – Apparently, the saying “history repeats itself” is true: the last two snowfalls in Graham County have both been followed by brush fires in the same weeks.
Maybe the next time it snows, firefighters will be tempted to grab fire rakes instead of snow shovels.
Shortly after 3 p.m., Friday, a fire was reported near Maggie Wachacha Road in the Santeetlah area of the county. Firefighters with Graham County Fire and Rescue, the N.C. Forest Service and the U.S. Forest Service responded, and were able to control the fire quickly after it had burned less than an acre of Cherokee Tribal land.
No structures were threatened and the cause of the fire was listed as undetermined.
Another fire was reported just before 3 p.m., Sunday. A resident on Joyce Kilmer Road near Santeetlah Cove noticed smoke rising close to a nearby home and went to investigate. The home is located near the woods and the neighbor found that dry leaves near the back of the home were on fire, as well as a section of railing on the porch of the home.
Graham County Fire and Rescue and the N.C. Forest Service responded to the fire, which was controlled after burning a small area.
It appeared that the fire had started when someone dumped hot embers onto the leaves.