Fire in Harmon Den still burning despite rain

Becky Johnson, The Mountaineer, Waynesville, N.C.
·2 min read

Dec. 2—Wednesday's rain didn't quell a forest fire burning in the Harmon Den area of Haywood County, which had burned 700 acres by late Thursday afternoon.

Up to one inch of rain fell in the area overnight Tuesday and Wednesday morning, but nonetheless, the fire continued to grow by another 200 acres.

The fire is in the vicinity of exit 7 off Interstate 40 in the Pisgah National Forest. Smoke has been visible from the interstate through the Gorge for most of the week.

Haywood County 911 received about 200 calls from passing motorists alarmed by the smoke on Monday morning.

"That call volume quickly decreased when signage was placed along the interstate," said Allison Richmond, public information officer for Haywood County Emergency Services.

While the fire is concentrated in Pisgah National Forest lands, there are several private cabins and structures within the fire's vicinity. So far, forest service fire crews have successfully protected all the structures.

The fire was considered only 40% contained as of Thursday afternoon. Fire crews have been focused on battling hotspots and holding firelines.

"It is expected that some locations in the interior of the fire area will continue to reignite," according to a statement from the National Forest Service. "Firefighters are continuing to monitor and patrol the firelines, as well as extinguishing hot spots along the edge of the fire area."

While the rain Tuesday night and Wednesday morning helped beat back the fire some, it also created hazardous conditions along gravel forest service roads, limiting access to the interior of the fire. Aerial reconnaissance was also limited due to high winds Wednesday.

The Hurricane Ridge Fire began burning last Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 23. At its peak, more than 90 firefighters with the U.S. Forest Service and N.C. Forest Service were battling the fire.

Haywood County Emergency Services has assisted by providing a planning trailer for incident command to work out of and a light tower.

"We have also deployed a resource unit leader to supplement their team and a special operations medic on standby in the event of a medical emergency," Richmond said.

The public is asked to avoid recreating in the area as to not interfere with firefighting operations.

The cause of the Hurricane Ridge Fire is under investigation.