NEBO, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A wildfire north of Marion has burned an estimated 52 acres, McDowell County EMS officials said Wednesday. The fire, which started Tuesday afternoon off Armstrong Creek Road, is about 90 percent contained.
Firefighters worked through the night to establish containment lines in the fire burning near N.C. 226A north of Marion, McDowell County EMS officials said in a news release.
The Armstrong Fire is burning in rugged terrain on the U.S. Forest Service Grandfather Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest and on private property near Armstrong Fish Hatchery. It is being managed under unified command with the North Carolina Forest Service.
The area where the fire is burning received significant damage from Tropical Storm Helene. When firefighters arrived on scene Tuesday, the fire was moving up the mountain into areas of heavy tree blowdown, the news release said. A helicopter provided water drops to slow the spread and protect private property along Armstrong Creek and Snow Hill roads.
Woodlawn Fire Department, Hankins Fire Department, Nebo Fire Department, Glenwood Fire Department, Ashford North Cove Fire Department, McDowell Rescue, McDowell EMS and McDowell County Emergency Management assisted with structure protection through the night.
Four homes were threatened and protected during the initial attack Tuesday. As of Wednesday morning, there was no imminent threat to structures and no evacuation orders in place, fire officials said.
Firelines were installed around the Armstrong Fire perimeter Tuesday night. Burn-out operations were implemented to secure the firelines, removing the fuels between the active fire and the firelines. On Wednesday, firefighters continued burn-out operations and worked to extinguish hot spots near the firelines. Dry, warm and windy conditions were expected to increase fire behavior.
Smoke could impact communities around U.S. 221 in North Cove and N.C. 226 between Marion and Spruce Pine, fire officials said. The public is urged to use caution when driving through smoke, especially in the evening and morning commutes when smoke settles along the roadways.
The cause of the fire is confirmed to be an accidental ignition from a back-yard debris burn. Unseasonably warm conditions and low humidities mean fire risk is high throughout Western North Carolina. The public is urged to use caution with any outdoor burning.