U.S. Forest Service to hold last community meeting on fire tonight in Clayton
The wildfire that’s consumed nearly 25,000 acres in Northeast Georgia and Western North Carolina is now nearly out. The U.S. Forest Service reports the Rock Mountain Fire is 95% contained. Officials are rapidly de-escalating manpower and resources assigned to the site.
At it’s height, more than 600 firefighters and other personnel were assigned to battling the blaze. That number is now down to 137, according to the latest information from the USFS.
READ: Wildland firefighters cheered in local Christmas Parade
The Rock Mountain Fire started November 9th when a series of small fires were ignited along Tallulah Road 10 miles northwest of Clayton. The fires merged into what became the second largest, and most costly of the hundreds of wildfires that have burned in Georgia this year.
Of the 24,725 acres reported burned by the Rock Mountain Fire, approximately 12,962 acres are in Georgia. The USFS reports 11,111 acres have burned in Rabun County and 1,851 in Towns County. An additional 11,763 acres burned in North Carolina – 3,860 in Clay County and 7,903 in Macon County.
Authorities say the fire was human caused. Authorities have said they believe it was intentionally set. It remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, officials will hold the last of a series of community meetings on the Rock Mountain Fire December 5th at 6 p.m. at the Rabun County Courthouse in Clayton.
Rain relief
Firefighters battled merciless drought conditions through most of November. Efforts to contain the fire rapidly progressed after rain moved into the region on November 28th, breaking a string of 108 consecutive days without a half inch of rain. Since that time, the area has received more than three inches of rainfall.
Video from a recent reconnaissance flight by the U.S. Forest Service over the affected area shows how much progress has been made.
Rain also helped speed up fire suppression efforts in Fannin County where lightning sparked a forest fire on October 16th. The Rough Ridge Fire has consumed 27,870 acres and is now 95% contained.
The Rough Ridge and Rock Mountain fires combined have cost an estimated $19.6 million, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
Burn bans & watering restrictions still in place
While continued rainfall across the region is helping to ease Northeast Georgia’s extreme drought conditions, the area still remains under a Level 2 Drought response.
A burn ban remains in place for all national and state forests and state parks. No burn permits are being issued across the region and fireworks are still banned in over 100 Georgia counties. Outdoor watering restrictions also remain in place in more than three-quarters of the state.
Last update 12/5/16@10am
