Blaze sparked by Corridor K efforts
Stecoah – Nighttime travelers on N.C. 143 (Sweetwater Road) have no doubt witnessed roaring blazes on the roadside for the last few months – the remnants of brush, trees and other foliage cleared in preparation for the Corridor K expansion.
First seen near the Slaybacon Road/N.C. 143 intersection, the massive, controlled burns have been a spectacle to behold, with embers shooting high into the darkened sky. The fires have progressed on the eastbound side of the road in correlation with the clearing, which has seen piles burning at night between Beech Creek and Nathan Garland roads – and most recently, near the top of Stecoah Mountain.
Around 7 p.m. Feb. 22, firefighters from both the N.C. and U.S. Forest services teamed up with Stecoah and Graham County fire responders on a call about a wildfire that had started on the descending side of the road.
N.C. Forest Ranger Frank Cline told The Graham Star that the culprit of the blaze was a windy afternoon, which had swept embers across N.C. 143 and into the woods, resulting in quite the visual for anyone traveling uphill – but a three-hour battle for the responders, who had to climb a steep bank to fight the blaze.
The fire was brought under control by 10 p.m. A residence about 200 yards west of the fire was not harmed.