GrahamCountyFireandRescue

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.

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.

The home of Jim and Lela Hyde erupted in flames Feb. 12. Firefighters were unable to save the residence. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Home lost to morning blaze

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Atoah – The Graham County 911 Center received a report of a structure fire at 285 Atoah Circle at 10:41 a.m., Feb. 12. Members from Graham County Fire and Rescue – as well as units from Snowbird, Santeetlah, Meadow Branch, N.C. Forest Service and EMS – all responded to the scene.

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.

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.