Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests Fire Update: November 25, 2016 – 1 p.m.
Release Date: Nov 25, 2016
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests Fire Update: November 25, 2016 – 1 p.m.
Forest-wide Fire Ban
Southern Area Coordination Center advises there are currently 33 large fires burning in the Southeast for a total of 125,958 acres. Wildfires have burned an estimated 47,555 acres on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in the last month.
Due to extreme fire danger and current drought conditions, a total fire ban is in place on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire (including charcoal based fire whether contained in a grill or not) is prohibited. Commercially available fuel stoves (camp stoves) are allowed.
More than 6,000 firefighters from Alaska to Maine have joined forces with local, state and federal agencies to battle the blazes burning across six southeastern states. We are thankful for their service, commitment and sacrifice.
Thank you to the many organizations and volunteers who prepared Thanksgiving dinner for firefighters and support staff yesterday. Your hospitality made being away from our families a lot more bearable.
Chattooga River Ranger District
Rock Mountain Fire, Rabun and Towns Counties, GA and Clay and Counties, NC (update)
Acres
18,069
Containment
35%
Location
Tallulah River Road, Straw Mountain Area
Date Discovered
Nov. 9, 2016
Cause
Human-caused; under investigation
Fire Information
Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5100/
Email: rockmountainfire@gmail.com Phone: 470-208-2866
Evacuations
Rabun County, GA—Call 470-208-2866 for further information
Flames from the Rock Mountain Fire are visible from Patterson Gap, Betty’s Creek, and the Wolffork Road areas.
Pre-evacuation for Patterson Gap north of Ramah Darom Church Camp
Pre-evacuation of all roads at Bettys Creek, north of Tom Wilson Rd to the state line; this includes Messer Creek Rd, Hambidge Ct, High Darnell Rd, Bryes Place Ln,
Towns County, GA - Call 706-896-7460 for further information
· Pre-evacuation for Tate City
Evacuation notice in effect for residents in Clay County NC, north of Tate City in the Dream Catcher Cove Area.
Closures
Charlies Creek Road, off Tallulah River Road
Tallulah River Road (Forest Service Road 70)
The Appalachian Trail between Dicks Creek Gap, Georgia, to Rock Gap, North Carolina
An area closure has been issued for the Nantahala wilderness area
Patterson Gap Road from Betty's Creek Road to Poplar Gap (USFS road)
Betty's Creek Road from Patterson Gap to the North Carolina state line (Rabun County)
Mulberry from the North Carolina state line to Pagonia Drive/Beasley Gap (Macon County)
Summary
Operations focused on protecting homes and property east of the fire in the areas of Betty’s Creek Road and Patterson Gap. All dozer lines to protect the area were completed yesterday. Mop-up and rehabilitation continues on the southwest side of the fire.
Community Meeting
None
Cliff Creek, Rabun County, GA (update)
Acres
~6
Containment
95%
Location
Off of Flint Mountain Lane near Tiger, GA
Date Discovered
Nov. 23, 2016
Cause
Unknown
Fire Information
Phone: 470-202-8844
Evacuations
None
Closures
None
Summary
Interior smokes continue; firefighters have built line around the perimeter.
Timber Ridge Fire, Rabun County, GA (no change)
Acres
888
Containment
98%
Location
Southeast of Clayton, GA
Date Discovered
Nov. 12, 2016
Cause
Unknown
Fire Information
Phone: 470-202-8844
Evacuations
None
Closures
None
Summary
Firefighters continue rehabilitation of dozer line efforts to repair impacts on the land.
Conasauga Ranger District
Rough Ridge Fire, Murray, Fannin and Gilmer Counties, GA (update)
Acres
27,870
Containment
75%
Location
Cohutta Wilderness, 13 miles west of Blue Ridge, GA
Date Discovered
Oct. 16, 2016
Cause
Lightning
Fire Information
Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5078
E-mail: roughridgefireteam1@gmail.com Phone: 470-208-2839
Evacuations
None
Closures
The following areas and roads will be closed during 11/30-12/4 for the hunt:
· Cohutta Wilderness south of Jacks River.
· WMA lands east of Forest Service Road 16 and east of the Conasauga River to the Cohutta Wilderness boundary.
· WMA lands north of Forest Service Road 64 to Buddy Cove Gap and generally west of the Pinhoti Trail to Forest Service Road 126.
· WMA lands north of Forest Service Road 126 and generally west of the Benton MacKaye Trail to the Wilderness boundary.
· Forest Service Road 51 (East Cowpen/Jigger Creek).
· Forest Sevice Road 126 (Elliot Road/West Fork Jacks River).
· Forest Service Road 64 from Three Forks Trailhead Parking Lot to Jacks River Fields Campground is closed to motorized vehicles because of a landslide.
· Forest Service Road 18 between Emery Creek Trailhead Parking Lot and Shanty Creek is closed to motorized vehicles because of a landslide.
· Forest Service Road 630D (Rocky Flats) closed to motorized vehicles because of a sinkhole. http://www.georgiawildlife.com/WMAroadclosures
Summary
The Cohutta Wilderness Management Area will open as planned on November 30, 2016 for the big game hunting season. However, some areas within the active fire area will remain closed. Contact the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Game Management Office at 706‑295‑6041 for further information. Outdoor fire restrictions will remain in place during the hunting season.
Fires 100% Contained
Fire Name
Location
Ranger District
Acres
Rock Crusher Fire, Rabun County, GA
Warwoman Road and Old Rock Crusher Road, Clayton, GA
Chattooga River
4
Burrell and Burrells 42 Fires
Rabun County, GA
Hwy 28 near Burrells Ford
Chattooga River
185
combined
Raven Fire, Union County, GA
Raven Cliffs Wilderness
Chattooga River
20+
Chimney Top Fire, Union County, GA
Approx. 1.5 miles west of Brasstown Bald Visitor Center
Blue Ridge
3
Coopers Fire, Union County, GA
Northeast of Suches, GA
Blue Ridge
8
Campbell Mountain Fire, Union County
Campbell Mountain
Blue Ridge
22
Strawberry Mountain Fire
Walker County, GA
Strawberry Mountain near Manning Mill Creek
Conasauga
477 acres: 225 USFS/ 252 private
FS22-1 Fire, Fannin County, GA
Near Foster Branch Road, Epworth GA
Conasauga
1.5
Watson Gap Fire, Fannin County, GA
Off Watson Road, Epworth, GA
Conasauga
1.5
Additional Closures
Location
County
Ranger District
Raven Cliffs Fall
Union County, GA
Chattooga River
Pinhoti Trail between West Armuchee
Road and East Armuchee Road
Walker County, GA
Conasauga
To learn more about Georgia’s national forests, download the forest’s mobile app at http://tinyurl.com/CONFmobileapp.
Alerts & Warnings
- #BurnAlerts for Prescribed Fires
- Seasonal Road Closures in Effect
- FS Road 22 Tumbling Creek road hazard - major slump
- Before riding your UTV, Educate Yourself!
- Houston Valley Delayed Opening
- Track Rock Petroglyphs
- Flatlands Road (FSR 256 and FSR 637) Closed
- Road Closures on the Chattooga River Ranger District
- Coleman River Rd (FSR #54) Closure
- CAUTION Waterfall Dangers
- CALL BEFORE YOU HAUL - ATV and OHV
- Panther Creek Trail Temporary Hiker Restrictions
- Don't Move Firewood!