Local firefighters assisted U.S. Forestry personnel battling a woods fire near Mount Airy on Wednesday. The fire is on national forest land off Ayersville Road near Ben Loudermilk Road.
U.S. Forestry Service (USFS) Fire Management Officer Adam Henry tells Now Habersham that the fire is “100% contained” but will not be considered controlled until the area receives some significant rainfall. He says USFS personnel will maintain their lines twice a day for at least the next week.
Difficult fire to locate
A forest service employee who happened to be in the area tagging trees reported the fire after seeing heavy smoke. Officials had a difficult time finding the fire since it was not near a road or any structures. Once they located it, USFS dispatched its fire team, Henry says.
USFS Public Affairs Officer Steven Bekkerus says firefighters with the Chattooga River Ranger District responded to the call around 11:30 Wednesday morning, Nov. 1.
“It was confirmed and designated as the Loudermilk Fire, located south of Highway 123, about .25 miles north of Ayersville Road, west of the Middle Fork of the Broad River,” says Bekkerus.
Fifteen USFS firefighters responded to the scene, as well as Habersham County Emergency Services. Firefighters used heavy equipment to create containment lines. Later in the afternoon, the Georgia Forestry Commission used one of its scout planes to fly over the area and give feedback to the ground crews.
“The fire grew to nearly 31 acres before firefighters declared it fully contained,” says Bekkerus.
Visible for miles
Henry responded to the scene from Lakemont. He could see the column of smoke from miles away near the Victory Home on Highway 441.
Crews will continue to monitor and mop up any remaining hotspots and address any hazardous trees in the area.
Bekkerus warns about the current fire dangers in the National Forest. High fire conditions have persisted for days with the cold, dry air and high winds that have moved into the region.
“Much of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is in severe to moderate drought, with low humidity levels. Rain is not in the immediate weather forecast; therefore, fire danger is expected to last for several more days, possibly weeks.”
If not for the observant employee who just happened to be in the right place at the right time on Wednesday, the Loudermilk fire could have been much worse.
It’s a cautionary tale and a good reminder to the community to stay vigilant.
“When you see something, say something. Call 911,” urges Henry.
