Wildfires

Wildfires - North Carolina, USA

Authorities say 2,500 firefighters and other personnel are making progress on containing some of the biggest wildfires in western North Carolina.

As of Saturday morning, five of 11 wildfires listed in the Joint Information Center’s update were more than 50 percent contained. Two of the fires also were affecting parts of South Carolina and Georgia.

The Party Rock fire near Lake Lure was 80 percent contained as nearly 300 firefighters and other workers continued to fight it. That’s down from a peak of about 900 personnel.

The Maple Springs fire in Graham County, the Chestnut Knob Fire in Burke County and the Boteler Fire in Clay County were also all above 70 percent containment.

Two other large fires were less contained. The Pinnacle Mountain Fire includes parts of Transylvania County and Pickens County in South Carolina. About 250 fire personnel had that fire about 40 percent contained after completing a fireline Friday night. A public meeting will be held Sunday in Cleveland, South Carolina.

The Rock Mountain Fire, which crosses into Georgia from Clay and Macon counties, was 40 percent contained by nearly 600 firefighters.

Rain expected to help fighting North Carolina wildfires over the next few days.