Abigail Margulis

amargulis@citizen-times.com

FRANKLIN - A wildfire burning in Macon County off Old N.C. 64 near Franklin caused firefighters to close a portion of the Appalachian Trail temporarily, but the trail was reopened by Thursday afternoon as crews made progress containing the fire.

The Wallace Gap to the Winding Stair Gap section of the Appalachian Trail had been closed while the the U.S. Forest Service first began to contain the fire burning in the Buck Knob area of the Nantahala National Forest, which is southeast of Franklin.

The fire is under investigation; however, officials suspect a human started the fire.

The Buck Knob Fire, reported Wednesday afternoon, grew to 225 acres within 24 hours and crews had the flames 50 percent contained.

Throughout Wednesday night and Thursday crews completed burn lines to remove any remaining fuel between the wildfires and the lines. A helicopter also assisted in operations on Thursday.

Officials expected the fire to grow to 243 acres as of sunset Thursday.

Old N.C. 64 remained closed from Wallace Gap to Popular Cove Road Thursday afternoon, but officials expected to reopen it by Thursday night.

Dry conditions and high winds are impacting the firefighters' efforts to contain the fire.

The U.S. Forest Service, North Carolina Forest Service, Macon County Emergency Management and the West Macon Volunteer Fire Department have been on scene.

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