Edneyville wildfire now 434 acres, 30% contained, UNC expert gives advice on air quality

As the Poplar Drive Fire in Edneyville reached Day 7 on Nov. 9, the North Carolina Forest Service announced it would be conducting what it calls "a strategic burn" on Bald Top Mountain to assist in the containment of what is now a 434-acre fire.

At 5:55 p.m., the Forest Service announced the fire was 30% contained and that the burn was successful. It was a 2.5-acre burnout operation in an area of unburned vegetation flanking Kyles Creek Road.

“We identified an area where the fire did not burn all the way to the fire line we put in. That unburned area can be susceptible to catching fire and throwing embers if we do not handle it," N.C. Forest Service Operations Section Chief David LaFon said in a news release. "The plan for a burnout of the green vegetation is the best and safest course of action for our firefighters and the citizens living near this area."

LaFon said once the burn is completed, the fire line in this section will be better reinforced to keep the fire in footprint in place.

The release said one home, two cabins and two outbuildings have been lost to the fire, while another home sustained damage.

With this burn, air quality could diminish and continue to be a concern for residents in the county.

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What to expect with the air quality

According to IQAir.com, on Nov. 9, the air quality in Henderson County due to the Edneyville wildfire still smoldering was Code Yellow, meaning moderate. But it was Code Orange in some parts of the county when the fire was in its early stages.

Sarav Arunachalam, an adjunct professor in the department of environmental sciences and engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, reached out to the Times-News after reading stories about the wildfire in Edneyville. Arunachalam studies air pollution in connection to public health and says he tries to model air pollution and emissions and how it affects public health.

"From what I've seen ... I know it's been going on for a few days now ... the state has put out air quality alerts. We've seen code orange and some code red in the western part of the state. They are directly tied to the levels of air pollution that will affect populations close to the fire," he told the Times-News on Nov. 8.

He said although it may not look smoky in an area, the air quality could still be hazardous.

More: North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declares state of emergency as wildfires burn in mountains

"Sometimes, depending on the intensity of the smoke and the levels of air pollution that are in the atmosphere, you may be able to see. But sometimes it is not visible to the naked eye. That's why it's important for people to be aware of these air quality code alerts and the code colors and levels. Anything in the Code Orange and above, you really need to watch out for," Arunachalam said.

The air quality is improving, but it's still not ideal conditions, and people in the county should take precautions, Arunachalam said.

"If people have to be outdoors, they should limit their exertion of activities outdoors. While limiting activities, you should wear a good mask. If indoors, you want to make sure windows and doors are closed and also that there is a good HEPA filter," he said.

Homes remain threatened

The Forest Service's Nov. 9 morning update stated that area homes remain threatened, and Forest Service personnel, county fire department and sheriff’s office staff are continually assessing theneeds of those structures.

The fire began on Nov. 3. It has been reported that a controlled burn by a homeowner a week before was likely the cause of the fire, the Forest Service reports that the cause remains under investigation. Philip Jackson, the public information officer for the N.C. Forest Service, told the Times-News on Nov. 8 that crews are still determining the number of structures that are threatened.

"We're putting heavy emphasis on structure protection and trying to identify the exact number of structures that might be threatened. We're out there counting them by hand to make sure we have an exact number," he said. "We've been trying to confirm that for a couple of days. We're still assessing that and still getting data from the field."

The latest from the N.C. Forest Service

In its morning update on Nov. 9, the Forest Service said personnel fighting the fire has scaled back slightly. There were a total of 222 people assisting with firefighting efforts, and now that number has dropped slightly to 207.

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Here are the other updates:

Fire behavior: The fire continues to back, creep and smolder within the fire imprint, indicating low intensity fire activity. Potential for fire reignition is elevated due to leaf fall and snags.

Weather: Temperatures well above normal continue (Nov. 9) but with increased afternoon humidity. A cold front will approach the area later today, moving across the area in the evening. Light rain is forecast for Friday into Friday evening, with accumulations forecast to be less than a quarter inch.

Burn ban notice: Effective 5 p.m. Nov. 8, a burn ban was issued for Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe,Avery, Buncombe, Caldwell, Catawba, Haywood, Iredell, Lincoln, Madison, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties. Effective 5 p.m. Nov. 5, a burn ban was issued for Burke,Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain and Transylvania counties. Both bans remain in effect until further notice.

Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A “TFR” is in place at an altitude from the surface up to and including 7,500 feet, daily (24 hours) until further notice. Complete information is at https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_8718.html. Flying drones within a TFR designated area is unlawful. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire compromises the safety of pilots and interferes with firefighting efforts.

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Edneyville wildfire now 434 acres, 30% contained, UNC expert discusses air quality