Drought, Fires Prompting Burn Bans in Southeast

A re-entry pass is required and can be picked up at the Party Rock Fire Information Center.

Since the beginning of the month, the fires have grown unbridled in parts of Tennessee as well as Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia – forcing the evacuation of dozens of homes over the weekend. “When you’ve got such a massive area, there’s no way you’re going to be able to go in and cool this fire down when there’s thousands of acres involved”.

The fire has moved into Henderson County, and Harmon said firefighters will use whatever they can, such as paved roads, streams or other geographic boundaries, bulldozer lines and more to stop the fire.

Firefighters are continuing their efforts in protecting structures while constructing containment lines around the fire, however, fire managers are concerned about predicted strong winds.

He also thanked volunteers, like Missy Freeman, who are feeding firefighters.

“It bodes well for Wake County in supporting our neighbors to the west”, Alford said.

“We call that the red eye of the dragon”, Cullum says. “It shows a good brotherhood helping out neighbors”.

Byars is one of the people fighting this fire head on.

Emergency workers in Tennessee have been trying to contain 67 fires burning almost 16,000 acres.

More than 30 large fires remain uncontained, and overall, a total of 128,000 acres has burned, or about nine times the size of Manhattan.

“Coming from my end, I do feel like it’s getting better”, Thornton said Tuesday.

More than 900 firefighters made progress against the 6,712-acre Party Rock Fire, reaching to 32 percent containment on Thursday. Zebulon also sent two firefighters in a brush truck, Caleb Creech and Colby Stepp.

As several women assembled care packages Tuesday, Brittany Keener said “we really need lubricating eye drops!” We are cooking. We are putting out food. They do have resources to fight the fire from the air, but that isn’t the best method of attacking the fire. Personnel working the state’s largest fire, which has burned more than 13,000 acres so far, appeared to have turned a corner.

“We are committed to doing all we can to support our firefighters, protect people and property, and find those who may be responsible for any wildfires in North Carolina”, said McCrory.

The National Weather Service is forecasting that the drought will continue at least through early next year.

Massive wildfires are ravaging the southeastern parts of the United States, sending plumes of smoke so thick they could even be seen from space. More than 1,100 firefighters are trying to stop the wildfires in the Tarheel State. Investigations continue into the cause of wildfires, but arson is suspected. The fire restriction will be in effect until further notice. “We’re making sure that they have any and every kind of toiletry”, said Freeman.