Last Updated on April 21, 2016 8:59 pm
NEBO, N.C., April 21, 2016 – The Hot Box Fire was reported early this evening (Thursday April 21, 2016) on the Grandfather Ranger District in McDowell County, north of Ridgecrest, NC. It is burning on the Pisgah National Forest and private property.
The fire is located in the Mill Creek area between Ridgecrest and Old Fort near the Point Lookout Trail. The total size of the fire is currently estimated at 60 acres.
Firefighters with the U.S. Forest Service, North Carolina Forest Service, and the Old Fort Fire Department are on scene assessing the fire area. A hotshot crew and state aviation resources are assisting local firefighters. Fire officials hope to have containment lines fully constructed overnight.
The fire was ignited as three separate starts both north and south of the Point Lookout Trail from sparks from the railroad. The Point Lookout Trail is closed to protect public safety.
