Collett Ridge wildfire in WNC grows to over 4.5 square miles, no containment
The Collett Ridge fire has grown to more than 4.5 square miles in Cherokee County, North Carolina — growing by more than 750 acres in a single day.
The U.S. Forest Service and North Carolina Forest Service have provided an update on the Collett Ridge fire, 4 miles south of Andrews in the Cherokee County area of Nantahala National Forest. The fire has grown to 2,919 acres, and there is currently 0% containment, according to the Nov. 7 update.
The Citizen Times reported that the fire was caused by a lightning strike on Oct. 23.
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A total of 112 personnel were reported to be on the scene, including two 20-person hand crews, nine engines, two helicopters, one air attack platform and overhead personnel.
The U.S. Forest Service and North Carolina Forest Service statement said:
"Yesterday the fire continued to grow, mainly to the southwest and southeast along the ridgeline, multiple aircraft were used to slow the progression of the fire. Very Large Air Tankers (VLATs) dropped 12,000 gallons of retardant on the southwestern corner and a helicopter was used to perform water drops on the southeastern corner. By slowing the fire spread, this provides firefighters time to establish containment lines."
The statement continued:
"The fire is burning is very steep, forested, and remote terrain making it very difficult to access directly, therefore crews must utilize indirect lines that the fire will grow to. These containment lines can be natural like a creek or man-made such as a road, a handline (which firefighters dig into the ground) or a dozer line which creates a break in fuels, holding the fire to that area."
No structures have been lost as a result of the fire. No injuries have been reported as a result of the fire.
The Rim Trail is temporarily closed for approximately 7 miles from Big Stump to Shinbone. There are no road or area closures at this time, but the USFS recommends the public avoid the area so fire crews and resources can work safely.
On Nov. 5, a burning ban was put in place across 14 Western North Carolina counties as a severe drought conditions continue. Rain is not expected in the area until Nov. 10.
“It’s going to continue to be dry through Thursday, and there’s some chance of rain on Friday,” meteorologist Doug Outlaw with the National Weather Service said to the Citizen Times Nov. 6. “But the rain we are expecting on Friday and Friday night is only expected to be a tenth of an inch for the Hendersonville and Asheville area, and maybe 2 tenths of an inch over in the Great Smoky Mountains.”
In Henderson County, the Poplar Drive Fire burning in the Edneyville community is 431 acres and 5% contained, according to the North Carolina Forest Service.
As of Nov. 6, The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has issued a Code Red air quality alert for three Western North Carolina counties, while other counties have been issued a Code Orange alert. Macon, Clay and Cherokee counties were under Code Red. Graham, Henderson, Jackson, Swain and Transylvania counties are under Code Orange until 3:30 a.m. Nov. 8.
Air quality alerts: Code Red air quality alert issued for 3 WNC counties; 5 counties on Code Orange
On Nov. 6, Buncombe County declared a state of local emergency and banned all outdoor burning, except for using outdoor grills to prepare food. The state of emergency will persist until county officials lift it.
Buncombe County will notify residents of an emergency. Residents can sign up for alerts by texting “BCAlert” to 99411 or going to buncombecounty.org/codered.
While moderate-to-severe drought conditions persist in WNC, Buncombe and other counties hit similar levels in 2022 and 2019, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Drought conditions have not yet reached 2016 levels, when extended drought conditions across WNC contributed to 34 wildfires that burned throughout November, eventually burning some 60,000 acres of forest. They also led to 14 deaths in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, after the Chimney Tops Fire that started in Great Smoky Mountains National Park raged outside the park's borders.
Buncombe is encouraging residents to develop safety plans.
“Experts also recommend creating a ‘go kit’ with medications, important bank documents, social security cards, insurance policies, water, food, pet supplies, and more,” the news release read.
Residents can learn more about safety plans at readync.gov.
Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Collett Ridge Fire grows by 35%: 4.5 square miles, no containment
