Last Updated on March 28, 2016 12:59 pm
NEBO, N.C., March 28, 2016 – Favorable weather conditions allowed firefighters to fully contain the North Peak Fire in McDowell County over the weekend. The final size of the fire is approximately 570 acres.
The North Peak Fire was reported Wednesday morning, March 23 on North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission Game Lands. The fire burned on private and Pisgah National Forest Lands on the Grandfather Ranger District. The fire area is located in rugged terrain north of Lake James Road, east of Hankins Road, and south of Bald Knob, 5 miles northeast of Marion, N.C.
A history of prescribed fire and wildfire in the area allowed firefighters to use existing containment lines in suppression efforts. This limited the spread of the wildfire to the south and west and provided safe access routes to the fire area. There were no injuries or structures lost in the fire.
The Over Mountain Victory Trail has reopened.
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and N.C. Forest Service (NCFS) managed the fire jointly with resources from both agencies and support from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, McDowell County Emergency Management Services, Hankins-North Fork Volunteer Fire Department, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Both agencies remind the public that we are currently in wildfire season across Western North Carolina. Public living in the wildland – urban interface should take steps to protect their homes from wildfire risk. For more information about making your home Fire Wise, visit: http://www.ncfirewise.org/. For general information about outdoor fire safety, visit: http://www.ncforestservice.gov/fire_control/fc_firesafetyoutdoors.htm
