Last Updated on April 21, 2025 11:28 am
Firefighters successfully completed strategic firing operations to reduce unburned fuels on the Bee Rock Creek Fire in McDowell County near the Armstrong State Fish Hatchery. Today firefighters will continue mopping up hotspots, securing containment lines and patrolling the fire’s edge. They are also repairing areas disturbed by suppression activities. This includes installing water bars on dozer lines to reduce erosion.
After careful coordination and evaluation of current fire behavior and containment progress, McDowell County Emergency Management lifted the evacuation order for residences on Wild Acres Road and Wild Acres Retreat. Officials urge residents to remain cautious and aware of any ongoing firefighting activity in the area.
The 1,397-acre fire is 27% contained with 159 personnel from the USDA Forest Service, North Carolina Forest Service, National Park Service, McDowell County and Woodlawn Fire Department.
The National Forests in North Carolina closed the area of the Bee Rock Creek Fire between Armstrong Creek Road and the Blue Ridge Parkway for public and firefighter safety.
Some sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway are also closed. Check the National Park Service website for details before visiting.
A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the fire area each day from 10 a.m. to midnight. See the map at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_7644. Aircraft, including drones, are prohibited from flying to provide a safe environment for firefighting. If you fly, we can’t. If a drone is spotted near the fire, all aircraft are grounded until the drone is clear of the area.
Please be aware of smoke and crews in the area. Drive slowly and use caution on roads where smoke may be settling. Check air quality at https://airquality.climate.ncsu.edu/ or https://fire.airnow.gov.
