Robbinsville – Firefighters with the N.C. Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service, and the Graham County Fire Department responded to a brush fire near a home on Five Point Road around 1 p.m. Friday.
A homeowner was burning debris, when the dry and windy conditions caused the fire to quickly get out of control.
The fire was contained after burning less than an acre, but came within ten feet of the home.
Deep in the woods
Deals Gap – Crews then spent several hours on Valentine’s Day battling another brush fire at the Shuler Lake development near Deals Gap.
The fire was discovered around 3:30 p.m. by someone out for a walk. The fire was burning near three homes when firefighters arrived.
Graham County and Santeetlah Fire Departments placed fire engines near the homes for structure protection, while firefighters from the N.C. Forest Service and U.S. Forest Service battled the fire in the woods.
N.C. Forest Service Ranger Frank Cline said the fire appeared to have started from someone burning debris and that the fire was contained around 8 p.m., after burning roughly 10 acres.
The public is strongly urged by forestry officials to not do any outside burning on days when the fire danger is high, due to low humidity and windy conditions.