Cause of wildfire in Great Smoky Mountains National Park identified: What to know
The cause of a wildfire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park first reported Aug. 26 has been identified by fire officials and investigators, according to a recent news release.
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Where is the fire in the Smoky Mountains?
On the evening of Aug. 26 a wildfire was reported burning near Hannah Mountain, south of Abrams Creek, on the Tennessee side of the park. It originally was reported as covering 10 acres.
How large is the Smokies wildfire?
Currently, the Flint Gap Fire is 17 acres in size, according to the Sept. 3 news release, about the same size as was reported Friday, Aug. 30. The news release said that there is low potential for the fire to grow significantly over the course of the next several days due to high humidity, lack of strong winds and shaded terrain.
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What caused the Smokies wildfire?
According to the news release, investigators and officials have determined that the Flint Gap Fire was started by a lightning strike during a recent summer storm.
The news release added that wildfires caused by lightning are relatively rare in the Smokies, with most occurring during August.
Though the exact date of the lightning strike is unknown, the fire was originally reported to the park Aug. 26.
Is the Smokies wildfire under control?
In addition to the low potential for significant growth reported, the park is utilizing several resources to fight the fire, including ground crews and a Type 3 helicopter.
Crews are monitoring fire activity and working to identify areas where the fire can be safely confined and contained. As in previous reports, no structures are currently threatened.
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Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Fire in Smoky Mountains: What to know about cause of Flint Gap Fire
