The fire that blazed across the Jude’s Gap/Wrold’s Edge area burned 1,474 acres before fire fighters could contain it Sunday.
A small force of fire officials remained on the scene Monday to continue patrolling the fire lines.
Officials say a small amount of smoke may be visible at times, as small unburned areas well within the fire’s perimeter continue to burn.
Wildfire activity was extremely high across North Carolina yesterday. There were 288 fires reported burning a total of 2,960 acres. A 1,600 acre fire in Warren County is now 80 percent contained. Two fires in Cherokee County burned 185 acres. Eight homes and 41 other structures were lost to wildfires yesterday.
Cooperating agencies included the N.C. Forest Service, N.C. State Parks, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, South Carolina Forestry Commission, Tennessee Division of Forestry, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Western Justice Academy and Americorp. Sunny View Fire Department worked the fire in its early stages.
Local resident, and Bulletin outdoor columnist, Rob McComas said he’s hiked into the area where the fire occurred and said the steep and rocky terrain make it difficult to access.
Watch the Bulletin later this week for an extended story on the fire and the areas it affected.