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Aided by wet conditions today, firefighters have made progress in containing the Hot Box Fire burning on the Grandfather Ranger District in Old Fort.

The fire is located on Pisgah National Forest and private property in the Mill Creek area, north of Ridgecrest and west of Old Fort near the Point Lookout Trail. Favorable weather allowed firefighters to get an accurate size-up of the fire today, which is now estimated at 45 acres and 50% contained.

Much needed rainfall reduced fire behavior, but has not fully extinguished the flames. Fire officials expect the fire will be fully contained by tomorrow evening.

The Point Lookout Trail will remain closed through Saturday evening. The Forest Service is asking the public to avoid the area until fire operations are completed.

Assistant County Ranger Chris Davis said crews were called out to the area Thursday around 5 p.m. after a train car caught on fire and ignited the surrounding woodland.

“The fire is actually above and below the trail. It started out as six different fires,” he said.