ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A brush fire that ignited Sunday afternoon off the Blue Ridge Parkway northeast of Asheville has burned about 10 acres and was 40 percent contained as of Monday, according to the North Carolina Forest Service.
Other wildfires were also active in the region, the agency said. A fire near Lower Brush Creek Road was estimated at 28 acres and 90 percent contained, while an 8-acre fire in the Dix Creek area was listed at 90 percent containment. In Haywood County, a 70-acre fire burning along Panther Creek Road was 60 percent contained. A 3-acre fire north of Mars Hill reached 90 percent containment.
The Buncombe County Fire Marshal’s Office issued an open burning ban effective Monday, citing low humidity and strong, gusty winds that have created extreme fire danger. The ban covers all open burning of yard waste, debris and land-clearing materials. Cooking fires and grills are exempt. The ban will remain in effect until conditions improve and the region receives rainfall.
The ban does not apply to permitted, controlled and attended fires more than 100 feet from a structure. Questions about those permits should be directed to the North Carolina Forest Service (828-667-5211).
Emergency crews continued to respond Monday to the brush fire along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Officials ordered visitors to leave the area between Rattlesnake Lodge and Ox Creek Road on Sunday.
Local officials reminded residents that open burning is never allowed within municipal limits and that all fires must be attended, kept small and placed at least 25 feet from vegetation and structures. Only natural vegetation may be burned. Residents can call the county’s open burning hotline (828-250-6767) to determine if burning is allowed on a given day.
The National Weather Service said cooler temperatures and lighter winds were expected Monday, but very low humidity would keep fire danger elevated. Forecasters said humidity and temperatures would rise midweek, with warmer-than-normal conditions returning by Wednesday.
A red flag warning remained in effect for parts of North Carolina, signaling critical fire weather conditions. State officials urged residents to postpone any outdoor burning, noting that careless debris burning is the leading cause of wildfires statewide.