Avey Branch, Maple Springs Fire Summary - 5 pm Tuesday

Nantahala National Forest- Avey Branch, Maple Springs 
Fire Summary

Avey Branch Fire: A Type 3 Incident Management Team (Nevada IMT3 Team 4) is managing the Avey Branch that includes the Avey Branch and Maple Springs Fires. The Fires will likely burn together to form one larger fire within the next day. The Avey Branch started on November 4, 2016 at 5:44 P.M. and has grown to be about 540 acres. The Fire is located north of Santeetlah Lake. The fire yesterday was active with wind driven runs, and terrain driven uphill runs. The fire is burning in harwood litter and brush. The fire managers are primarily focused on structure protection in the Gold Mine area. Dozer lines are being constructed around perimeter of the private land to protect the structures in the Gold Mine area, and helicopters are dumping water on the active head of the fire to slow the fire spread. Dozer lines have been constructed in the Rock Creek drainage to slow fire growth from moving south. Engines will be working in and patrolling the Gold Mine area today. Forest Roads 1127 and 1134 east of the Gold Mine area are closed.

Maple Springs Fire: A Type 3 Incident Management Team (Nevada IMT3 Team 4) is managing the Avey Branch that includes the Avey Branch and Maple Springs Fires. The Fires will likely burn together to form one larger fire within the next day. The Maple Springs Fire started on November 4, 2016 at 8:10 P.M. and has grown to be about 1,678 acres. The Fire is located north of Santeetlah Lake. The fire yesterday was active with wind driven runs, and terrain driven uphill runs. The fire is burning in harwood litter and brush. The fire managers are primarily focused on structure protection in the Gold Mine area. Dozer lines are being constructed around perimeter of the private land to protect the structures in the Gold Mine area and helicopters are dumping water on the active head of the fire to slow the fire spread. Dozer lines have been constructed in the Rock Creek drainage to slow fire growth from moving south. Engines will be working in and patrolling the Gold Mine area today. Forest Roads 1127 and 1134 east of the Gold Mine area are closed.

Additional Fire Information for these two fires and other fires in North Carolina can be located at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/34/.

HIGH Fire Danger today as Hot, Dry Conditions Continue!

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