Firefighters and Georgia Forestry personnel spent six hours battling a woods fire that spread on Long Mountain in White County Wednesday. Aided by low humidity and gentle winds, the fire spread quickly. It consumed between 15-20 acres before crews extinguished it, officials say.
White County 911 dispatched units to 640 Long Mountain Trail around 5:13 p.m. on February 24. The fire was located on the northwest side of the mountain with smoke visible from the Appalachian Parkway.
Three county fire stations responded with mutual aid from Cleveland Fire.
“Units arrived on scene and found approximately a two-acre fire on the side of Long Mountain,” says White County Public Safety Director David Murphy.
The Georgia Forestry Service was called in to help battle the blaze. Local crews protected residential structures and assisted forestry personnel with hand line operations. Forestry crews used a bulldozer to cut a line along the top of the fire as firefighters hosed down the flanks.
The fire broke out on a day the National Weather Service issued a high fire danger warning because of the low humidity and wind.
Officials have not specified what caused the fire, but White County Fire Chief Seth Weaver reminds homeowners to remain mindful of where they dump their ashes when cleaning out their fireplace. He also urges residents to keep their yards clean of leaves and other combustibles.
“Even though we have rain, when the humidity is low, fire danger goes up,” Weaver cautions.
For more information on making your home safe from wildfires contact the Office of Public Safety or visit their website at www.whitecounty.net.
