RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 14 (UPI) — About 1,000 more people in the mountains of North Carolina were ordered to evacuate on Sunday as the Party Rock Fire grew to cover 3,457 acres.
Several major fires in western North Carolina were at least partially contained by Sunday, but the Party Rock Fire grew in intensity and mandatory evacuations of about 1,000 people were ordered Sunday for part of Chimney Rock in Rutherford County near Lake Lure, joining mandatory orders in five other North Carolina counties. The Party Rock Fire, which began on Saturday, grew to 3,457 acres by Sunday and was only 15 percent contained, according to InciWeb, the national incident information system for wildfires.
Around 1,400 firefighters were working to contain 15 wildfires in western North Carolina that have together consumed 46,803 acres, according to the National Forest Service.
Originally there were 18 fires, but three merged or were extinguished.
Rain was falling on much of the state on Sunday, but didn’t amount to much in the areas affected by the fire.
“Unfortunately, for the mountains, the system coming up from the south to give central North Carolina some rain will stay east of the wildfires. Nothing more than a sprinkle out west, so that won’t help matters at all,” said WNCN Meteorologist Bill Reh said Sunday.
Since early last week, the fires have grown from 3,000 acres to covering almost 3,500 acres.
The largest blaze is the Tellico Fire, covering 13,676 acres in Macon and Swain counties through Monday morning. It’s 39 percent contained with 464 firefighters working to control the fire.
Firefighters are also contending with a rockslide. Officials closed a 10-mile section of U.S. 19/74 in the Nantahala Gorge, saying the Tellico Fire could cause rocks and debris to fall.
By Monday morning, the Boteler Fire, east of Hayesville, was covering 8,695 acres and was 37 percent contained, up from 23 percent the day earlier. Clay County evacuations associated with that fire were lifted Sunday. The fire started Thursday.
The other big fire is the Maple Springs Fire (7,177 acres, 15 percent contained).
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said the state will “do everything” to fight the wildfires.
