We're on Fire!

[Ducati Diva]

The smoke here is awful! I hope it rains today! As of this morning it has moved into Great Smoky Mountains National Park.


Staff Reports
Published: April 29, 2009

Ray Stamper from the Public Safety Division of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians tells News Channel 7 that over 3,000 acres have burned. He says 50 to 60 firefighters from Oklahoma have come in to help fight the fire along with the Hot Shots firefighting group from Asheville. Also more crews will head to the area Wednesday to help with water drops.

Stampers says the winds picked up Tuesday evening and they anticipate the fire will spread further. The groups are contending with lots of smoke in the Big Cove community of Swain County.

The fire started Monday at 1:50 p.m. at the Stony Campground when a power pole next to an unoccupied trailer fell. The electricity at the pole started the fire on the ground. The fire skirted the trailer and went into the woods. The trailer had minor damage. The firefighters had to deal with 5 to 10 m.p.h. winds which carried the fire away really fast.
No structures or people have been injured. Daycares and the schools were let out at noon Tuesday. Cherokee High School was in the path of a lot of the smoke.

The Salvation Army from Waynesville has come in to help feed all the firefighters at the KOA campground on the reservation. The group will stay until the fire is out.