Veteran firefighters knew that they were likely in for a busy day Saturday, just by observing weather conditions.
And they were correct.
The National Weather Service had issued a “Red Flag Alert” for high fire danger with strong, gusty winds and low, relative humidity with downed tree limbs, twigs and leaves having moisture content below 10 percent.
It didn’t take long for things to start happening. Around 11:30 a.m., a fire was discovered near Rattler Ford Campground, which appeared to have been intentionally set. This fire was quickly contained and kept to less than an acre by U.S. Forest Service firefighters.
Firefighters were later called to assist on a fire near Silvermine Creek in the Nantahala Gorge. While this fire was still burning, around 4 p.m., Darren Jenkins of the Stecoah Rescue Squad reported a fire started by a downed power line near Fontana. Firefighters with the U.S. Forest Service, N.C. Forest Service, Stecoah Fire Department and Graham County Fire Department arrived to find the fire being pushed by winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour and relative humidity down to 14 percent.
Additional firefighters and a dozer from Cherokee County were called in to assist local resources.
Firefighters were able to use a forest service road to help contain the fire around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, after it had burned 40 acres.
All but two acres of the fire was on U.S. Forest Service land.