Many outdoor activities banned as fires burn across South

Party Rock Fire information can be found at INCIWEB or on the Town of Lake Lure Facebook page.

The approach of a cold front on Friday will bring with it an increase in south to southwest winds.

The flames also have moved into Buncombe County and forced evacuations there.

In statements made to the press, McCrory and Forest Service officials have stated that the fire could continue burning until March unless the state receives rain or snow.

The Party Rock Fire has burned almost 5,000 acres, and Tillotson said it has been especially aggressive, making it the second-highest priority fire in the country.

“If the perimeter expands by 20 percent, even if we complete 20 percent more containment we’re standing still”, Lyon said. Pat McCrory said at a news conference Monday.

Forestry officials said if everything goes as planned, then they can have the fire near South Mountain contained by sometime next week.

“We can not let our guard down because the last thing we want is this fire to start back up with the wind change”, he said. “It is not just a normal fall, we’ve seen an extreme drought”.

These conditions result in the need for more manpower than normal, as well as thinking more in terms of fighting Western fires, he said.

More than 900 firefighters and structure protection firefighters remained on scene Thursday. The fire blackened much of the ground in the forest nearby. A helicopter has also been able to deliver large water drops to ensure that the burnout did not cross the fire line.

A Georgia sheriff says tips from residents led them to four children ages 7 to 13 who authorities say touched off a wildfire near an airport by playing with a lighter in the woods and lighting dried-up leaves on fire. He said the smell of smoke occasionally drifted through the area.

This was due to firefighters doing burnout operations, meaning they set fire inside of a control line to consume fuel between the edge of the fire and the control line. Kentucky has been in a “state of emergency because of these fires for nearly two weeks”, said John Mura, the director of communications for the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet.

New areas were evacuated in Henderson County on Wednesday because of the Party Rock Fire.

“Since last Saturday, daily briefings have been held at the N.C. Forest Service Office in McDowell, where representatives from local emergency agencies come together to discuss daily operational plans”, said Kehler at the time of questioning. The meeting lasted about an hour. “We have units available to assist”, Edward Nieto said.

“The key point that matters for people living here is the extended smoky conditions that are starting to bother some people”, he said.