Henderson County State of Emergency Ends

Henderson County -- November 15, 2023:The Poplar Drive Fire in Henderson County is now 95% contained and remains at 434 acres.

The Henderson County State of Emergency ended at noon today. 

North Carolina Forest Service:

The Alum Knob Fire in Madison County is 36 acres and is now 90% contained. Firefighters continue to mop up smoldering areas in the fire footprint and reinforce containment lines.

The Elk Creek, Tripplett, and Branch fires are currently being mopped up by firefighters. Elk Creek Fire in Watauga started Nov. 8 and is 225 acres and remains 90% contained with some minimal smoldering in the interior of the fire footprint. The Tripplett Fire in Wilkes County is 107 acres and 90% contained. No homes were damaged or destroyed. The Tripplett Fire started Nov. 8. The Branch Fire in Wilkes County, which started Nov. 9, is 80 acres and is 85% contained. Three structures are threatened on the Branch Fire. The cause of these three fires remains under investigation. New leaf fall from windy conditions remains a concern as the dry leaves are available fuel for fire reignition.

The Collett Ridge Fire is burning in Cherokee and Clay counties. The fire is 5,335 acres in size and 79% contained. The Collett Ridge Fire is being managed under unified command between the Southern Area Blue Team and the N.C. Forest Service. Information on this fire can be found at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ncncf-2023-collett-ridge-fire. The cause of Collett Ridge was determined to be lightning.

The following road and area closures are in effect due to increased fire activity and suppression operations in the area from Big Stamp east to Shinbone Ridge to Signal Bald, and a road closure is in effect from the intersection of Little Fires Creek Road, 340B, and Fires Creek Road, 340. The Rim Trail is temporarily closed for approximately 7 miles from Big Stamp to Shinbone.

WNCTimes