USForestService

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

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

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.

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

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.

Crews battle 100-acre blaze

Marshall McClung
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Franklin – U.S. Forest Service firefighters from the Nantahala and Tusquitee Ranger districts are assigned to a forest fire near Winding Stairs Gap in Macon County. The fire was first reported near the U.S.

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.