Karen Chávez

kchavez@citizen-times.com

Editor's note: For the latest fire news, click here.

ASHEVILLE - Arson is suspected in most of the 19 fires now burning in the Nantahala National Forest in the far western counties of Western North Carolina, according to the U.S. Forest Service and incident command teams.

“Only one fire has been attributed to lightning strike, the Boteler Fire, which was first discovered Oct. 25,” said Adam Solt, public information officer with the Southern Red Team Incident Management Team.

The rest of the fires are believed to be human-caused, such as campfires left unattended or cigarettes tossed without being completed extinguished, Solt said.

“The majority we believe to be started by arson,” said Cathy Dowd, spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service in Asheville. “Some signs of arson are the presence of accelerants – something used to start a fire quickly. Another sign is the absence of a fire ring. With a campfire, you will see a fire ring.”

Dowd said Forest Service law enforcement is leading the investigation in conjunction with local sheriff’s departments.

Combined, the fires are burning over approximately 22,000 acres, with more than 1,100 firefighters from across the country.

The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests have implemented a total fire ban. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire (including charcoal based fire whether in a grill or not) is not allowed anywhere on the National Forests.

Party Rock fire spreads, forces resident evacuations

Road Closures, evacuations and shelters:

Follow the fire’s Facebook page for most up-to-date information at facebook.com/BotelerFire.

Swain County:

Residents along the following closed roads are under a mandatory evacuation order: Big Dog, Gassaway, Licklog, Long Branch, Luther Bingham, Mason Road, Morgan, Northern Partridge, Silver Mine, East Silver Ridge, Wesser Creek and Wilkes Road.

Evacuation shelter: Swain County Senior Center is available if needed. Call Swain County Dispatch 828-488-2196 if you need shelter services.

Macon County

Residents along the following roads are under a mandatory evacuation order: De Wessse Road and Partridge Creek Road. Tellico Road is also closed

Evacuation shelter: Macon County EMS Base, 1096 Junaluska Road, Topton.

Clay County

Residents along Ash Loop Road, Nelson Ridge Road are under a mandatory evacuation order.

Roads are closed and residents are under a mandatory evacuation order in: Cold Branch Road at its junction from Nelson Ridge Road south to U.S. 64 and then east to Pounding Mill Road. U.S. 64 itself remains open.

Evacuation shelter: Clay County Senior Center, 196 Ritter Road, Hayesville.

Following are updates on Nantahala National Forest fires:

Tellico Fire and Ferebee Fire (Swain and Macon Counties): Tellico was very active Thursday night, advancing north up and over Paint Mountain. It is naturally merging with Ferebee, so fire managers are working to make sure that happens on their terms. Structure-protection crews are working in the Queens Lake, Partridge Creek, Otter Creek, East Silver Mine, and other communities between Tellico and Ferebee as other firefighters conduct strategic burning operations to intentionally bring the two fires together on the north side along Wesser Creek and Gassaway Roads and on the south side along Winding Stairs Road.

Tellico Fire started Oct. 23. It is 6,839 acres, 18 percent contained. The Ferebee Fire started Nov. 5. It is 2,061 acres, 28 percent contained.

Boteler Fire (Clay County): On Thursday a hotshot crew constructed fireline in rugged terrain near Piney Creek. Air tankers and helicopters dropped water and fire retardant to create a defensive barrier on Piney Top above High Meadow. Crews completed fireline construction along Chunky Gall Trail to Tate Gap. Thursday night, three new fire starts were detected near Thunderstruck Brook, Tate Brook, and the north end of Fishprong Brook. On Friday firefighters secured and mopped up firelines near structures along Mill Creek Road and Pounding Mills Road. The fire started Oct. 25. It is 4,767 acres, 12 percent contained.

Dick’s Creek Fire (Jackson County): This fire is minimally active, creeping and smoldering and reburning as more leaves fall within the perimeter. Crews are protecting structures, and patrolling, mopping up, and blowing containment lines. Fire managers planned to conduct an infrared flight Friday night to detect remaining areas of heat, which firefighters on the ground will locate and extinguish within 100 feet of the containment line. The fire started Oct. 23. It is 728 acres, 85 percent contained.

Knob Fire (Macon County): Crews did not conduct burning operations Friday. They are mopping up and blowing leaves off firelines and monitoring U.S. 64 for smoke and traffic. This fire continues to produce smoke as leaves continue to fall and ignite in the fire’s interior. The containment lines are holding and being monitored. It started Nov. 2. It is 1,130 acres, and is 80 percent contained.

Whitewater Fire (Jackson County): An engine crew is improving fireline and mopping up and patrolling existing containment lines. The start date is unknown. It is 23 acre and 0 percent contained.

Buck Creek Fire, Falls Fire, Grape Cove Fire, Moses Creek Fire, Jones Gap Fire, Jarrett Knob Fire, Wine Spring Fire, Mulberry Fire, Moss Knob Fire, May Fire, and Cliffside Fire: These fires are not actively growing. However, as more leaves drop from trees in the fires’ interior, they have the potential to burn, producing smoke that could be visible to nearby residents. Firefighters are monitoring and patrolling these fires daily to ensure the containment lines are holding.

Maple Springs and Old Roughy fires (Graham County): These fires are just north of Robbinsville. On Thursday night firefighters patrolled fire edges and continued monitoring for growth near structures. As fire moves closer to homes, crews are using tactics to minimize flame length through fuel reduction and removal. Properties are evaluated and firelines built in areas with the highest probability for success in stopping the fire’s advance near the values at risk.The Old Roughy Fire started Nov. 4. It is 532 acres and is 1 percent contained. The Maple Springs Fire started Nov. 8. It is 6,065 acres and is 10 percent contained.

Motorists should use caution when driving in the fire area. Trees and rocks falling onto U.S. 19 in the Nantahala Gorge, low visibility due to smoke, and the presence of firefighters and equipment are driving hazards.

Residents should take measures to protect their homes from wildfire, such as moving wood or debris piles away from homes or propane tanks. Sweep dead leaves off roofs, gutters, and decks and away from structures. Visit the Firewise website at www.ncfirewise.org.

Report arson

All fires are being investigated for suspected arson. Call the National Forests of North Carolina at 828-257-4200 if you have information about people setting fires or bragging about setting fires. If you see someone starting a fire, call 911.

Chimney Rock, other parks closed for fires

Updated: More evacuations ordered near Lake Lure, Chimney Rock