Last Updated on April 24, 2026 1:37 pm
UPDATE — Friday, April 24, 1:02 p.m.: The NC Forest Service public viewer is reporting 90 percent containment on the County Line brush fire in Avery County as of Friday afternoon. The fire remains at 76 acres.
Containment has improved dramatically since the fire broke out Wednesday afternoon — from 45 percent Wednesday night, to 65 percent Thursday morning, to 75 percent Thursday afternoon, and now 90 percent Friday afternoon.
WataugaOnline will continue to update as information becomes available.
Source: NC Forest Service (Incident #2602006624, last updated 1:02 PM Friday, April 24)
UPDATE — 4:00 p.m., Thursday, April 23: The NC Forest Service public viewer is reporting 75 percent containment on the County Line brush fire in Avery County as of 4:00 p.m. Thursday. The fire has grown slightly to 76 acres, up from 70 acres reported earlier in the day, as controlled back burning operations continue.
Containment has improved significantly throughout the day, rising from 45 percent overnight to 65 percent at midmorning to 75 percent by Thursday afternoon.
Source: NC Forest Service (Incident #2602006624, last updated 4:00 PM)
UPDATE — 11:00 a.m., Thursday, April 23: The NC Forest Service and Avery County Emergency Management are both reporting 65 percent containment on the County Line brush fire as of Thursday morning. The fire has burned 70 acres, according to the NC Forest Service public viewer — up from the overnight report when acreage was still being determined.
Containment jumped from 45 percent overnight to 65 percent by 11:00 a.m. The controlled back burning operation underway this morning is helping crews make significant progress.
Sources: Avery County Emergency Management, NC Forest Service (Incident #2602006624, last updated 9:58 AM)
UPDATE — Thursday morning, April 23, 9:55 a.m.: Avery County Emergency Management says crews remain on scene at the County Line brush fire, which holds at 45 percent containment Thursday morning. Acreage is still being determined.
The NC Forest Service and fire departments will conduct controlled back burning today to help bring the fire under containment. Residents should expect significant smoke in the area throughout the day. Spotter planes remain in the air, with additional aircraft on standby locally.
Avery County Emergency Management reports that all homes in the vicinity are protected at this time. All resources and staff are on scene or on standby.
Officials ask the public to be patient with updates, noting the page is not monitored 24 hours a day.
Source: Avery County Emergency Management
UPDATE — Thursday morning, April 23: The NC Forest Service public viewer is reporting the Beams Hill brush fire in Avery County has burned 70 acres with 45 percent containment.
The fire, tracked as incident 2602006624, remains in active status. It is located in District 2 of Avery County. The official containment figure — last updated at 9:34 p.m. Wednesday — is unchanged from the percentage reported by Avery County Emergency Management Wednesday night.
Fire coordinates place the incident at roughly 35°56'20.76″ N, 82°0'28.04″ W — near the Avery/Mitchell County line.
US Highway 19E has been reopened, but significant smoke is expected to remain in the area for some time. Motorists are asked to use caution.
Source: NC Forest Service public viewer, Avery County Emergency Management
UPDATE — 9:45 p.m.: Crews remain on scene at the County Line brush fire near Beams Hill, with the fire now 45 percent contained, according to Avery County Emergency Management.
US Highway 19E remains open, but officials are asking anyone who must travel in the area to use caution. Significant smoke is expected to linger in the area for some time.
Source: Avery County Emergency Management
UPDATE — 8:22 p.m.: US Highway 19E has reopened, according to the Mitchell County Fire Marshal and Emergency Management.
The portion of 19E that had been closed due to the wildfire near Beams Hill is now open to traffic. Officials say further updates will be provided as received.
The road had been closed for several hours Wednesday afternoon and evening, from the Old Joe Howell Store to the Avery/Mitchell County line at Mayland, while crews battled the brush fire.
Source: Mitchell County Fire Marshal / Emergency Management
UPDATE — 7:45 p.m.: A temporary No Fly Zone is now in effect over the active wildfire burning near Beams Hill in Avery County, according to Avery County Emergency Management.
Emergency crews have been actively battling the fire for several hours. Agencies on scene include the NC Forest Service, Avery County fire departments, Mitchell County units, EMS, Linville Rescue, spotter planes, and two helicopters actively conducting water drops.
Officials say the air traffic residents are seeing and hearing is part of the firefighting effort and is assisting crews on the ground. Any unauthorized drone activity in the area is dangerous and will force firefighting aircraft to land, delaying critical operations. Absolutely no drones or unauthorized aircraft are permitted over the fire area.
The size of the fire is still being determined as suppression efforts continue.
US Highway 19E remains closed from the Old Joe Howell Store to the Avery/Mitchell County line at Mayland. Avery County Emergency Management says the closure is strictly enforced — motorists should not attempt to go around barricades or enter the area, as the roadway must remain clear for emergency personnel and equipment.
Residents in the vicinity of the fire will be notified via Reverse 911 if any action is required.
WataugaOnline will update as more information becomes available.
Source: Avery County Emergency Management
UPDATE — 5:05 p.m.: Avery County Emergency Management says crews are now on scene of the brush fire near Beams Hill, with a significant multi-agency response underway.
Resources on scene include the NC Forest Service, the majority of Avery County fire departments, Mitchell County resources, spotter planes in the air, two helicopters performing water drops, Avery County EMS, and Linville Rescue.
The size of the fire is still being determined as additional resources are deployed.
Emergency officials say the road closure on US 19E has been expanded. US 19E is now closed from the Old Joe Howell store to the Avery/Mitchell county line at Mayland.
Residents in the vicinity of the fire will be notified via Reverse 911 if any action is needed. Avery County Emergency Management is asking the public to stay clear of the area so emergency crews can do their jobs.
Source: Avery County Emergency Management
Two separate wildfires flared up across the High Country on Wednesday afternoon, April 22 — one prompting a road closure at the Avery-Mitchell county line and another forcing the closure of a farm in Ashe County.
Avery/Mitchell County Line — US 19E Closed
A wildfire near the Avery-Mitchell county line has prompted a road closure on US 19E at Gouges Creek, according to the Mitchell County Fire Marshal and Emergency Management.
US 19E is closed at 19E and Gouges Creek due to the wildfire burning near the Avery-Mitchell line. Drivers should detour via Gouges Creek Road to Hanging Rock Road into Avery County.
Fire departments, the NC Forest Service, and Watauga County crews are on scene. Motorists should exercise caution in the area.
Ashe County — Bluff View Farms Closed
A separate construction-induced forest fire has forced Bluff View Farms at 115 Calhoun Road in West Jefferson to close.
In a Facebook post Wednesday afternoon, the farm said all entries are blocked and asked the public to stay away and use caution. Fire crews are on scene.
Elevated Fire Danger
Both incidents come on a day when the National Weather Service has flagged increased fire danger across the High Country and western North Carolina. Relative humidity is dropping into the 20 to 30 percent range Wednesday afternoon, with wind gusts of 15 to 25 mph. Low humidity, gusty winds, and very dry vegetation are creating an elevated threat for the rapid spread of wildfires.
A statewide burn ban issued by the NC Forest Service remains in effect. All outdoor burning is prohibited.
WataugaOnline will update as more information becomes available.
Sources: Avery County Emergency Management, Mitchell County Fire Marshal, Bluff View Farms, National Weather Service
