Wildfires

Wildfires - North Carolina, USA

Crews have been at work for at least a week now as 18 fires grew from 3,000 acres early last week to exceed 33,000 acres on Sunday afternoon.

An evacuation was ordered for part of Chimney Rock in Rutherford County near Lake Lure and mandatory evacuations were already issued in five other North Carolina counties.

The so-called Party Rock Fire near Lake Lure had its western edge move further downhill off Round Top Mountain early Sunday, which put the blaze at the wood line in some areas of Chimney Rock Village, officials said.

The Tellico Fire is now the largest blaze in the state, covering 9,965 acres in Macon and Swain counties. It is about 33 percent contained. On Sunday, fire officials merged the Ferebee and Tellico Fires together since they were only separated by “dozer line.”