Two Wildfires Burning in WNC

The USFS in North Carolina announced today that it is fighting two wildfires in the Great Smoky Mountains region - one near Sylva, and the other near Linville Gorge.

The Dick's Creek Fire, burning on the Nantahala National Forest and private land near Sylva, NC, is estimated at 200-250 acres. The fire is located to the southeast of Dick's Creek Road. Firefighters are building hand and dozer lines and a helicopter is dropping water. Firefighters are also working to clear brush and leaves away from homes and other structures along Dick's Creek.

Drivers on US 74 will encounter smoke near Sylva. Smoke is expected to settle in to the valley near Sylva tonight.

The fire was discovered on Sunday morning; the cause is under investigation. Crews on scene are from the U.S. Forest Service, North Carolina Forest Service, Emergency Management from Jackson County, and Bureau of Land Management Lakeview, Oregon.

Firefighters are also responding to a wildfire burning along Old NC 105 (Kistler Memorial Hwy / SR 1238) near Linville Gorge, north of Lake James in Burke County. The Paddy’s Creek Fire was reported Monday afternoon in the Grandfather Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest.

The fire is located near the south end of Linville Gorge, adjacent to the Wilderness Area. The total size of the fire is currently estimated at 10 acres. Firefighters worked through the night yesterday to construct containment lines and hold the fire during strong winds. A helicopter will be on scene today. No structures are currently threatened.

In order to protect public safety, the NC Department of Transportation has closed Old NC 105 north of Paddy’s Creek Rd. to the intersection with Forest Service Road (FSRD) 106.



Jeff
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