The Rock Mountain Fire has grown to more than 4,100 acres and is 10% contained, according to the US Forest Service.
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Earlier this week, evacuations were ordered in Lake Lure in Rutherford County along with mandatory evacuations in parts of Graham, Swain, Clay and Macon counties.
Gov. Pat McCrory visited the Lake Lure area on Monday and vowed to do “everything to fight” the wildfires.
North Carolina has been the hardest hit with more than 36,800 acres in western parts of the state burning in 15 major fires that are in various stages of being controlled, according to the governor’s office. “This is extremely unsafe work and I especially want to thank the firefighters, first responders, sheriffs and other emergency personnel that have risked their own lives to protect our citizens and property”.
Arson is suspected in several fires in North Carolina and Georgia, but state forestry officials haven’t made any such indication regarding the Pinnacle Mountain fire. Firefighters conducted controlled burns Saturday on the NOC’s property and elsewhere nearby to stop the fire from spreading further.
By midday Sunday, the Boteler Fire, located east of Hayesville, was at 8,180 acres and was 23 percent contained.
Smoke has settled over Clayton, Georgia and surrounding Rabun County, where fires including a 2,000-acre blaze has forced people from their homes. “Most of the fires, if you’ve been keeping tabs, are in the Cumberland Plateau”. Her home is in the path of one section of the fire that is moving.
“Its definitely rewarding. I mean just to be out there is an experience”, said Morrisville volunteer firefighter John Kauls.
The wildfires are much smaller than the largest the state has seen. “They were being overcome by smoke just like a human being”, said Church. The weather had not been conducive for large fire growth the past couple days but the front is expected to change things for the worse. One outside structure was destroyed but the fire was contained before it could cause damage to two nearby cabins.
While the drought in the South is adding fuel to the large amount of wildfires, authorities suspect that a lot of them were cases of arson.
The Easley Fire Department is collecting water and sports drink donations that they are dispersing to crews fighting the fire on Pinnacle Mountain. The two Peoria firefighters being sent have special designations and skills that have been specifically requested to meet the needs of the depleted resources in the Southeast.
Crews there have been working in 12-hour shifts and often times coming back to tents to sleep in.
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Those crews include firefighters and equipment from Chapel Hill Fire, Wake County Fire and Orange County Rural Fire Department.
