Fontana – Graham County continues to be in the grip of a prolonged drought along with most if not all of the southern United States.
This has produced fire danger reaching the extreme level and led to a statewide burn ban being issued Sunday. Shortly thereafter, Graham County Fire Marshal Jack Jackson issued a local ban on fires within 100 feet of dwellings – which is not covered by a statewide order and has to be mandated at the local level.
Within the last week, the most notable blaze in the region was reported around 6:20 p.m., March 26, off N.C. 28 in Swain County, between the Twenty Mile Ranger Station and Fontana. Graham County Fire and Rescue, U.S. Forest Service and N.C. Forest Service responded to the fire, which is in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The National Park Service has since taken over the fire, which has closed N.C. 28 in that area.
As of Monday, the fire has burned 112 acres and is 75% contained. The National Park Service is receiving assistance from U.S. Forest Service personnel with the Cherokee National Forest, Nantahala National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management.
Other brush fires
A fire was reported to the U.S. Forest Service from within “The Landing” – which is near the Ground Squirrel community – around 4:30 p.m., March 25. The blaze was said to have started from an escaped debris burn.
Both the N.C. and U.S. Forest ervices controlled the fire after less than an acre of private land had burned.
Around roughly the same time the Fox Gap Fire was first called in, another report was received near the Graham County line in the Topton community of another brush fire.
Local units were alerted to provide structure protection for homes that might be endangered by the fire.
The fire was controlled quickly, but is still being monitored closely.
Shortly after Sunday’s bans were issued, Graham County Fire and Rescue members extinguished a brush pile some people were burning off Tallulah Road near Topton.
A press release from Graham County Emergency Management about the local ban noted that while the moratorium is in effect, crews can show up and extinguish any outdoor flames, per N.C. Fire Code 307.3.
Publisher/editor Kevin Hensley also contributed to this story.