UnitedStatesForestService

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.

This vacant home at 3744 Santeetlah Road burned Friday, igniting nearby woods and burning two acres of tribal land. Photo courtesy of Tory Lynnes/U.S. Forest Service

Empty home ignites, fire spreads to woods

Marshall McClung

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Santeetlah – Local firefighters were kept busy throughout Friday, battling a house fire and brush fire at the same time.

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.

Hiker rescued after seizure

Marshall McClung

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Santeetlah – Graham County Fire and Rescue members – along with U.S. Forest Service employees – responded to a medical emergency inside the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest around 11:30 a.m., May 20. Doris Neuman – 67 of Louisville, Ky. – was hiking the Memorial Loop Trail when she suffered a seizure.

Unattended campfire spreads into woods

Marshall McClung

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Milltown – Despite recent rains and a rapid greening of woodlands, the spring fire season is still with us at least for a while. Local firefighters with Graham County Fire and Rescue – as well as the N.C. and U.S. Forest services – responded to a small brush fire around 5:10 p.m., April 30.

After the fire

Marshall McClung

Friday, May 2, 2025

Graham County has experienced one of its busiest spring fire seasons this year, as firefighters were constantly busy with brush fires in March and April – with several of those threatening structures.

Car fire spreads into woods

Marshall McClung

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Meadow Branch – There was another brush fire before heavy rainfall arrived in Graham County early Monday morning. A vehicle fire was reported just before 9:30 p.m., Sunday night on Old Field Gap Road. The fire spread to the surrounding wooded area.

Appalachian Trail hiker rescued

Marshall McClung

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Fontana Dam – The Graham County 911 Center received a cell phone call from a female hiker on the Appalachian Trail, requesting assistance just after 3 p.m., Monday. Elayna Simmons, 28 of Cincinnati, Ohio, was hiking alone when she became ill almost five miles in on the trail from Fontana Dam.