Blue Ridge Parkway fire 80% contained, says USFS; cause is suspected unattended campfire

Ryan Oehrli, Asheville Citizen Times
·3 min read

A wildfire that burned through 370 acres off the Blue Ridge Parkway was mostly contained May 2, but some trails remained closed, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Firefighters expected to complete containment by the end of the day.

The Barnett Branch Fire burning near the Pisgah Inn, about 20 miles southwest of Asheville, was 80% contained May 2, according to Robert Beanblossom, a Forest Service spokesperson.

Crews continued mop-up efforts from the past few days and worked to repair a footbridge on the Barnett Branch Trail, he said.

"The crew did an excellent job of building containment lines, conducting burnout operations and getting this fire under containment," Beanblossom said.

Past reporting: Blue Ridge Parkway reopened: 200 acres, 30% contained wildfire

More: 2 dozen US Forest Service firefighters battle Blue Ridge Parkway blaze near Pisgah Inn

The U.S. Forest Service worked to repair a footbridge on the Barnett Branch Trail May 2, following a wildfire that was first reported April 27.
The U.S. Forest Service worked to repair a footbridge on the Barnett Branch Trail May 2, following a wildfire that was first reported April 27.

The footbridge was the only structure damaged, with no other structures threatened and no one injured, he said.

The fire's cause was still being investigated May 2, but was suspected to have started from an abandoned campfire, according to a U.S. Forest Service news release.

"Anyone causing such a fire, whether through negligence or carelessness, can be held liable for damages," the release said.

"Over the next few days, firefighters will be patrolling and mopping up hotspots near containment lines to reduce the likelihood of the fire spreading outside of the containment area," the release said. "Some smoke and burning of heavy materials is expected to continue until the fire area receives significant rainfall."

The fire was first reported April 27, and led to the closure of several roads and trails.

Firefighters spent the last few days battling the blaze. A helicopter was used for reconnaissance purposes late on the afternoon of April 28, Beanblossom previously told the Citizen Times.

The following trails remain closed:

  • Barnett Branch Trail #618, above Yellow Gap Road

  • Buck Springs Trail #104

  • Mountains to Sea Trail from Highway 276 to the Pisgah Inn.

A section of the Blue Ridge Parkway that was closed due to the fire reopened April 29, as well as Frying Pan Tower and the road to it.

Yellow Gap Road reopened April 30.

"We do have resources for assigned to this fire, obviously," said Beanblossom. "We are not releasing them yet because, should another wildfire occur, they would be available for initial attack."

He cited dry weather in the coming days.

Doug Outlaw, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said there would be a little rain in the area, with the "first chance" coming May 3, with a 30% chance.

Only light amounts are expected — generally, less than a 10th of an inch, he said.

Thunderstorms with a 1/4 to a 1/3 of an inch of rain are projected May 6, he said.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is the most-visited national park site in the country. It had 16 million visitors in 2021. It stretches 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smokies in Cherokee, and passes directly through Asheville.

Ryan Oehrli is the breaking news and social justice reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email coehrli@citizentimes.com or call/text 252-944-6816 for tips.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: US Forest Service does 'mop-up' in Barnett Branch Fire: 80% contained