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Summary: The weather and smoke conditions finally cooperated on Monday, allowing firefighters to utilize both helicopters and water-scooping aircraft to help slow the progression of the Maple Springs fire. Two CL-415 "Super Scoopers" combined to drop almost 50 loads of water totaling more than 70,000 gallons of water on the western flank of the fire where it is most active. In addition, helicopters dropped nearly 10,000 gallons of water on the southern flank of the fire in the Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness. The water drops helped keep the fire in check while firefighters fortified lines and scouted for additional contingency lines to the south and west of the active head of the fire. Firefighters are scouting Big Santeetlah Road south of the Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wildneress as a potential contingency line while also mopping up, patrolling and improving containment lines on both the Maple Springs and Old Roughy fires. The Maple Springs fire is creeping west into the wilderness area, where it is burning leaves and dead vegetation across the surface of the forest floor. Most fire activity is on the upper slopes at the top of creek and river drainages. Fire behavior consists primarily of backing and flanking with upslope runs. Heavy fuels such as stumps, logs and heavy duff are holding heat but the fire is still holding in several creek drainages. There was an increase of almost 350 acres on the Maple Springs fire from Sunday to Monday, putting the total acreage at 7,515 acres and containment remained at 15 percent. Acreage was unchanged on the 657 acre Old Roughy fire while containment increased from 60 to 80 percent. Evacuations orders issued on Nov. 9 for Lindy and Gold Mine roads on the east side of the Maple Springs fire north of Robbinsville were lifted early Monday afternoon to allow residents back into their homes. In addition, both sections of Highway 129 that were closed last week due to the potential for falling trees on the road were reopened Monday. A burn-out operation was completed along the northwest perimeter of the fire further reinforcing the fire perimeter in that area. This will be the final evening update on both the Maple Springs and Old Roughy fires unless there are significant changes. Rocky Mountain Blue Team Fire Size: Maple Springs Fire 7,515 acres Old Roughy Fire 657 acres Evacuations: Call 828-479-7985 for up to date information. Containment: Maple Springs 15% contained Old Roughy 80% contained Location: North of Lake Santeetlah Started: 11/04/16 Maple Springs 11/08/16 Old Roughy Causes to be determined. Total personnel: 410 responders Management: Rocky Mountain Type 2 Blue Team Burn ban in effect: www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/nfscn/alerts-notices/ Air Quality Reports: www.xapps.ncdenr.org  Comments are closed.
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