More than 4,400 acres have burned in the Party Rock Fire, pictured, in the mountains of North Carolina, and more than 46,000 acres have burned across the state in more than 13 wildfires during the last few weeks. The state's governor warned the fires may not be completely extinguished until March. Photo by
Midway Fire and Rescue
RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Firefighters in North Carolina, where 46,000 acres have burned from 13 wildfires in the last three weeks, say they are starting to get the blazes under control.
Fire officials say they have several fires, including the Boteler Fire and Tellico Fire, under growing control, and that the Party Rock Fire near Lake Lure is 19 percent contained despite its continued spread. Firefighters are focused on evacuating residents and protecting structures, none of which have been lost as the blazes have spread.
Droughts throughout the western part of the state, as well as the rest of the South, have increased risk for wildfires, weather and forestry officials say. The North Carolina Weather Service said Tuesday that while weather around the Party Rock Fire has not been conducive to large growth the last several days, temperatures are expected to reach the low 70s and humidity will drop below 30 percent -- both of which support rapid fire growth.
"These fires continue to threaten homes and businesses in the western part of our state, as well as the safety of the people who call that area home," Nick Campasano, Wake County Fire Services Director, said in a statement Tuesday. "Wake County is actively doing its part to help our colleagues get these fires under control."
The Party Rock Fire, referred to as the most dangerous in the North Carolina mountains, has burned about 4,480 acres in four counties and is roughly 19 percent contained.
Forty-one firefighters from 13 departments in Lake County, and a total of 323 firefighters overall, are now fighting the blaze, taking shifts to keep the firefighters fresh as they work to contain the wildfire.
Across the state, there are 1,600 firefighters fighting wildfires that have burned about 46,000 acres. The largest fire in the state, the Tellico Fire, has burned about 13,600 acres, but is 68 percent contained, according to the firefighters.
The Boteler Fire has also burned 8,967 acres, the Knob Fire has burned 1,130 acres, the Maple Springs Fire has burned 7,705 acres, the Chesnut Knob Fire has burned 4,600 acres, the Ferebee Fire has burned 3,175 acres and the Avey Branch Fire has burned 1,200 acres, in addition to several others that have touched hundreds of acres, according to InciWeb.
While progress has been made, changes to the weather -- including those expected later this week -- make the blazes unpredictable. It may take firefighters until March to completely put out all the fires, according to North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory.
