Humidity helps crews fight N.C. fires

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Higher humidity Sunday helped teams suppress North Carolina wildfires that have closed highways and a section of the Appalachian Trail, according the National Forest Service.

By midday Sunday, the Boteler Fire, east of Hayesville, was at 8,180 acres and was 23% contained. Clay County evacuations associated with that fire were lifted Sunday.

Wildfires burn thousands of acres across the Southeast

The Tellico Fire, 3 miles south of Almond, was at 9,965 acres and 33% contained Sunday afternoon. The fire, which started Nov. 3, has closed a 10-mile section of U.S. 19/74 in the Nantahala Gorge because of rocks and debris falling onto the roadway, the Forest Service said in a release. The closure starts at N.C. 129 on the south end and N.C. 28 to the north.

N.C. Department of Transportation said in a separate release that the road will be closed to all traffic until officials determine it is safe.

A section of the Appalachian Trial was closed because of fire activity in North Carolina and Georgia. The trail was closed from Dicks Creek Gap/U.S. 76 in Georgia (mile 69.9) to the Nantahala River/U.S. 19/74 in North Carolina (mile 137.1), according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s website. Campfires are banned along the entire A.T. in Georgia, North Carolina. and Tennessee.

The Party Rock Fire, near Lake Lure, remained at 2,883 acres in size and 15% contained, the N.C. Forest Service said in an update later Sunday afternoon. On its west side, the fire moved farther downhill overnight off Round Top Mountain and was at the woods line in some areas of Chimney Rock Village, according to a news release. Firefighters were focusing on protecting structures; so far, no structures have been lost.

Low clouds were keeping smoke in the air, and the air quality was a code orange in much of the western part of the state, if not code red in the farthest west counties.

A stretch of U.S. 74-A leading into Chimney Rock Village from the north and south remained closed. More information on roads can be accessed via the NCDOT Travel Information Management System website.

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