NCForestService

U.S. Forest Service firefighters Heath Emmons, Ben Limes and Forrest Koontz examine the remnants of a brush fire that started Sunday in Lake Santeetlah. Photo courtesy of Tory Lynnes/U.S. Forest Service

Arson suspected in house fire

Marshall McClung

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Snowbird – A house fire in the Little Snowbird section of Graham County appears to have been started by an arsonist.The fire was reported to Graham County 911 around 7:30 p.m., Monday.

Members of Graham County Fire and Rescue unload a side-by-side to aid in a rescue operation at Stecoah Gap on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Graham County Fire and Rescue

Fire, rescue, forestry, EMS kept busy

Marshall McClung

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

The last week has been busy for emergency personnel.Many of the calls for Graham County Fire and Rescue personnel could have been prevented, as the calls involved people ignoring the burn ban – despite extreme fire danger and a persistent drought.

Graham County is 1-of-15 across North Carolina currently experiencing an “extreme” drought, as shown by this map released last week. Map courtesy of North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council

Statewide burn ban still in effect

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Despite areas of North Carolina receiving steady rainfall last week, the statewide burn ban issued by the N.C. Forest Service is still in effect. Hazardous conditions inside forests around the state forced the ban to be enacted March 28, according to a press release from the N.C. Forest Service.

Fox Gap Fire now 75% contained

Marshall McClung

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

This map outlines the location of the Fox Gap Fire inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which started near the Twentymile Ranger Station in Swain County on March 26.

Tuesday blazes keep crews busy

Marshall McClung

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Tuesday was predicted to be a high fire-danger day – and it was, as firefighters were kept busy most of the afternoon and evening. Graham County Fire and Rescue, N.C. Forest Service and U.S.

Firefighters battle a blaze off Dick Branch Road on March 5. Photo courtesy of Jade Teasdale/N.C. Forest Service

Brush fires keep personnel busy

Marshall McClung

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Snowbird – Firefighters with Graham County Fire and Rescue – including the Snowbird unit – as well as both the N.C. and U.S. Forest services – responded to a brush fire around 4:30 p.m., March 5, on Dick Branch Road, in the Snowbird section of Graham County. N.C.

Crews respond to brush fire

Marshall McClung

Monday, March 9, 2026

Santeetlah – Both the Graham County Fire and Rescue and the N.C. Forest Service were dispatched around 9:30 p.m., Saturday to a brush fire burning along N.C. 143, roughly one mile west of the Cherohala Skyway.

Christmas Day brush fire extinguished

Marshall McClung

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Wolf Creek – Even though most people are off on Christmas, there are those who are called in to work holidays. Such was the case on Christmas Day, when the Graham County 911 Center received a report of a brush fire near Wolf Creek Grocery on N.C. 28 just after 4:30 p.m.

Vehicle starts brush fire

Marshall McClung

Friday, November 28, 2025

Snowbird – Firefighters with the U.S. Forest Service and N.C. Forest Service responded to a reported brush fire in the upper reaches of Little Snowbird around 10 a.m., Nov. 20.

Trio of brush fires keep county crews busy

Marshall McClung

Friday, November 21, 2025

Only a few days after a recent snowfall, fire weather returned. A landowner was burning brush on Jimmy Davis Road in the Massey Branch area Nov. 13, when the fire got out of control. Members of the N.C. Forest Service and U.S. Forest Service responded to the blaze around 1:40 p.m.