Pisgah National Forest fire spreads to 500 acres; 25% contained with rain, wind expected

A fire burning on the Pisgah National Forest’s Appalachian Ranger District has grown to about 500 acres over the last day, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

On Nov. 28, the Forest Service reported the fire being 150 acres. It is 25% contained, and the agency does not believe anyone is in immediate danger, spokesperson Lisa Jennings said. 

“I will say, that’s a pretty big increase in acreage after yesterday. Part of that is because of fire movement,” she said. “It’s been dry, and the fire’s been moving around …  We’ve also had more accurate mapping of the fire area.” 

The fire is burning between Cold Springs Road and Hurricane Creek Road in Haywood County, she said. 

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“Over the weekend, the fire crested over Hurricane Ridge and now primarily where the active fire is, is on the backside of that ridge, kind of burning east.” 

At press time Nov. 29 the Forest Service planned to close Haynes Road to give firefighters more room to work. Brady Road remains closed. 

Over 80 firefighters with the U.S. Forest Service and North Carolina Forest Service are on scene and receiving help from Haywood County Emergency Management and the state Department of Transportation. 

Firefighters were conducting burnout operations Nov. 29, with plans to continue constructing a fire line around the side Nov. 30, Jennings said. Air operations are on site, but they are only standing by and not planning any water drops at press time.

The fire’s cause is still being investigated, Jennings said. 

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There have been no injuries, fatalities or structure damage, she said. Both the national and state forest service are taking structure protection measures.

Property owners have been notified, and Haywood County has not issued any evacuations, she said. 

Smoke from burnout operations will likely blow south from the fire, into northeast Haywood County and western Madison County, Jennings said. 

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Haywood County will see rain later in the afternoon and into the night on Nov. 29, but the next few days will be very dry, National Weather Service Meteorologist Harry Gerapetritis said. 

There is going to be a period of heavy rain, kind of along and ahead of this approaching front, so that’s going to help,” he said. 

Rainfall will spread back into the southwest mountains through the evening hours. The period of heaviest rainfall will come from about midnight to daybreak, he said. 

“Right now, in the area of the fire, we’ve got some localized rainfall amounts of about 1-2 inches or so,” he said. 

There could be a rain shadow, he added.

“Our main concern at this point is hopefully we get some rain in there before the … winds, because it does look like it’s going to be gusty there overnight. Right now it kind of looks like the windiness will ramp up about the same time as the heavier showers, but it could be close.” 

Ryan Oehrli covers public safety for the Citizen Times. Tips? Comments? Questions? Reach Ryan atcoehrli@citizentimes.com.