Wildfire in McDowell County expands to 10 acres, trail closures issued
Firefighters continue to battle a fire in Western North Carolina that began the afternoon of July 28 and has since expanded to 10 acres.
The fire, which is called the Dobson Knob No. 2 Fire, began from a lightning strike in McDowell County and has slowly grown along the rocky slopes below Dobson Knob due to hot, dry afternoon weather, according to spokesperson Lisa Jennings of the National Forest Service.
“Yesterday, firefighters continued establishing contingency fire lines to the east and south of the fire area,” Jennings said in news release Aug. 1. “Today, firefighters will continue to improve these lines, refreshing areas established in the Bald Knob Fire in 2015 as well as along neighboring prescribed fire units. Three prescribed fire units border the fire area, which have helped firefighters with access and containment.”
The fire is continuing to grow, although slowly, at about 2 acres per day, Jennings told the Citizen Times Aug. 1. No homes or structures are imminently at risk, and the fire is burning in a remote area, she added.
The fire, currently 25% contained, is burning primarily on U.S. Forest Service lands with a small portion on private property. Jennings said the fire began close to a cabin, but when firefighters first arrived at the scene, they were able to set up contingency lines and secure the area ensuring the cabin is not at risk. The burning is located on the north side of Dobson Knob near the North Cove Community in McDowell County, to the northeast of Asheville.
Jennings added that the area where the fire continues to burn is surrounded by a wet, closed canopy forest which is helping prevent the fire from backing up towards private property.
Trial closures have been put in place for the Mountains to Sea Trail from the north fork of the Catawba River to Dobson Knob Road on the west side of Linville Gorge.
“Smoke is expected to be heaviest overnight and in the morning areas as it settles in low lying areas,” Jennings said, adding that communities in the North Cove, Woodlawn and Linville Falls Communities may experience smoke. “Travelers along U.S. Route 221 should use caution.”
Twenty firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service, North Carolina Forest Service, McDowell County Emergency Management and the North Cove Volunteer Fire Department are responding, according to Jennings.
Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. News tips? Email Ryley at rober@gannett.com. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Dobson Knob No. 2 Fire expands to 10 acres, trail closures issued
