WKRK 105.5 FM 1320 AM
  • Home
  • News
  • Weather
  • Closings & Traffic
  • Missing Pets
  • Shop Local
  • Contact Us

Maple Springs/Old Roughy Fires November 13, 2016 Evening Press Release

11/13/2016

 
Summary: 

Firefighters continued to make good progress containing both the Maple Springs and Old Roughy fires on Sunday. Containment on the 657-acre Old Roughy fire jumped from 8 to 60 percent while the 7,177-acre Maple Springs fire increased from 13 to 15 percent containment. 

An evacuation order issued on Nov. 9 for residents along Ryfield Road on the east side of the Old Roughy fire was lifted on Sunday afternoon due to the increased containment. 

Fire managers are focusing efforts on opening sections of Highway 129 that were closed due to falling trees. Two falling teams worked on cutting trees that could pose a threat along the closed sections of road. 

Crews are mopping up and improving containment lines on both the Maple Springs and Old Roughy fires, a process that will continue to ensure hot spots burning in stumps, logs and deep duff are extinguished. 

Weather on Monday will be similar to Sunday, with temperatures in the high 50s to low 60s and relative humidities in the upper 30 percent range, providing favorable conditions for mop-up operations on both fires. 

Fire managers on Sunday were once again able to employ helicopters to drop water on the southern flank of the fire in the Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness where the Maple Springs fire is still active. Reduced visibility due to smoke prevented the use of water-scooping aircraft. 

A burn-out operation along a 1-mile section of Highway 129 west of the Cheoah River was successful on the eastern perimeter of the fire. Firefighters hope to complete that mission by burning out another half-mile section Monday. The burn-out operation brought the fire down to the river and reinforced the containment line paralleling the highway. 

While firefighters appreciate the abundance of food and monetary donations that have come from residents in Graham County during the past week, the need for such donations has diminished. Residents are asked that future donations be directed to local non-profit agencies or the Wildland Fallen Firefighter Foundation at https://wffoundation.org. 

Fire Size:
Maple Springs Fire 7,177 acres Old Roughy Fire 657 acres 

Evacuations: Call 828-479-7985 for up to date information. 

Containment:
Maple Springs 15% contained Old Roughy 60% 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
Picture
Feel free to share any post from the WKRK website that you feel is beneficial to your community. We encourage input from local law enforcement, government officials, emergency management officials, schools and other public service organizations. To send us information, use the form on our Contact Us page.

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015


    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • News
  • Weather
  • Closings & Traffic
  • Missing Pets
  • Shop Local
  • Contact Us