Closures lifted in Bald Knob, Wolf Creek fire areas

This just in from the U.S. Forest Service - trail closures in the areas of the Bald Knob and Wolf Creek fires in the McDowell County area of Pisgah National Forest have been lifted today, Aug. 24.

Both the Bald Knob Fire, which started July 17, and Wolf Creek Fire, which started July 31, began on the Pisgah National Forest from lightning strikes, according to the Forest Service. Both fires have received significant rain over the past few weeks and are 100 percent contained.

Planned Events: As fire activity has drastically dropped off, the few remaining fire fighters will be focusing their efforts on repairing containment lines as weather allows. This includes erosion control measures such as placing water bars on constructed lines and seeding lines.

Closures & Restrictions: All temporary closures associated to these fires have been lifted.

This includes a section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail between the footbridge over the North Fork of the Catawba River and Dobson Know Road (Forest Service Road 106) and both the Heartbreak Ridge trail (208) and Star Gap trail (209).

Jarrett Creek Road (FS 4030) is also open to non-motorized traffic.

For more information about the fires, contact the Grandfather Ranger Station at 828-652-2144.

Cooperating agencies include the North Carolina Forest Service, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, McDowell County Emergency Management, and The Nature Conservancy.