Governor: FEMA to assist fight fires in western NC
- by Virginia Carter
- in World Media
- — Nov 23, 2016
In addition to those parks, where fires have burned approximately 1,000 acres in both locations, the division has closed New River, Gorges, Elk Knob, Lake James and Mount Mitchell state parks and Mount Jefferson State Natural Area.
The Forest Service said in a news release Thursday that investigators are focused on fires that started October 28 or later.
Forest Service officials in North Carolina are investigating whether numerous wildfires burning in the western part of the state were caused by arson.
More than 20 wildfires continue to burn across the Appalachian Mountains as dry conditions and wind make the job even more hard for firefighters.
North Carolina governor Pat McCrory issued a state of emergency yesterday.
There are also wildfires burning in the North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina areas. 25 counties are under a state of emergency. Other fires were burning in parts of Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee. Almost 300 people are battling that fire, which already consumed about 15 square miles, the Forest Service said.
Regional aviation director Shardul Raval of the U.S. Forest Service said Thursday that effort includes about 40 aircraft, and three large air tankers are flying out of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
More than 5,000 firefighters and support staff are now in the Southeast to fight the wildfires in the area, according to Shardul Raval, director of fire and aviation management for the southern region of the U.S. Forest Service, AP reported. The wildfire surge has burned over 7,500 acres of land in the state. Fire crews say it almost doubled in size overnight. In that community, authorities temporarily prohibited outdoor burning due to current weather conditions.
In Georgia, the Rough Ridge fire grew rapidly in the past 24 hours, with 10,000 acres burning just south of the Georgia-Tennessee Line. Clay County issued a mandatory evacuation to residents in this area. Homeowners can also prevent property damage from fires by keeping flammable materials such as woodpiles or dead leaves away from their homes or propane tanks. Firefighters in Alabama have battled more than 1,100 fires that have charred almost 12,000 acres in the last month.
Per the governor's declaration, a National Guard helicopter and technicians will be deployed to assist in rescues should they become necessary.
The federal government has approved a request for money to fight the blazes in western North Carolina, Gov.
Thursday's national drought report shows 41.6 million people in parts of 15 Southern states living in drought conditions.
