Evacuations are underway as several fire departments respond to a large woods fire in Wilkes County, according to officials.The North Wilkesboro Fire Department said the fire is near Cane Creek Church Road. Twenty-four fire departments are responding. “You know everybody’s talking about it, sometimes you don’t think it’d happen right here in our little community out in the country,” said a nearby resident. He added, “Come home from work just see a lot of smoke, just a lot of smoke you know it is on a mountain behind my house.”An official with the North Carolina Forestry Service tells WXII as of 8:30 p.m. Monday, the fire has burned 620 acres of land and is 20% contained, despite previous reports containment was at 50%.No structures have been threatened. The Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office tells WXII that it is assisting the McGrady Fire Department with evacuations in the McGrady community at the department’s request, along with a request from the North Carolina Forest Service. As of Monday morning, six people have voluntarily evacuated.The Mountain View Vol. Fire Department is assisting in the containment of the fire. “Our primary job right now is to make sure if it jumps the fire lines we protect the structures involved,” said Captain Jason Bowlin with the Mountain View Volunteer Fire Department. “With a wildfire, you never know it may or may not there’s lines the forestry service has done a good job cutting lines around the fire to help prevent that, but you never know,” he added.We’re told right now, crews are conducting strictly ground-based operations, but it is possible air support could be used as soon as today. There’s no estimate on when the fire may be out, and crews say the weather will play a key role in how quickly they are able to contain it. The Wilbar Volunteer Fire Department which is assisting the McGrady Fire Department, said they helped to provide structural protection and put in hand lines, and helped monitor fire conditions. They said the winds, in combination with large amounts of dead wood from Hurricane Helene has made the fire challenging. Crews are also responding to a woods fire at Fall Creek Road and Laurel Road in Wilkes Co. The Champion Fire Department shared photos of the fire on Facebook. They said the fire had burned 45 acres and was 15% contained at the time of the post on Facebook. There’s still no word on what started that fire. Wilkes County Schools released a statement, saying:”We have been in constant communication with the school principals in the district near the fire, as well as our transportation department. At this time, we are not aware of any school operations or bus routes being impacted. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.”This is a developing story. Check back for updates.RELATED COVERAGE Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.
WILKES COUNTY, N.C. —
Evacuations are underway as several fire departments respond to a large woods fire in Wilkes County, according to officials.
The North Wilkesboro Fire Department said the fire is near Cane Creek Church Road. Twenty-four fire departments are responding.
“You know everybody’s talking about it, sometimes you don’t think it’d happen right here in our little community out in the country,” said a nearby resident. He added, “Come home from work just see a lot of smoke, just a lot of smoke you know it is on a mountain behind my house.”
An official with the North Carolina Forestry Service tells WXII as of 8:30 p.m. Monday, the fire has burned 620 acres of land and is 20% contained, despite previous reports containment was at 50%.
No structures have been threatened.
The Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office tells WXII that it is assisting the McGrady Fire Department with evacuations in the McGrady community at the department’s request, along with a request from the North Carolina Forest Service. As of Monday morning, six people have voluntarily evacuated.
The Mountain View Vol. Fire Department is assisting in the containment of the fire.
“Our primary job right now is to make sure if it jumps the fire lines we protect the structures involved,” said Captain Jason Bowlin with the Mountain View Volunteer Fire Department. “With a wildfire, you never know it may or may not there’s lines the forestry service has done a good job cutting lines around the fire to help prevent that, but you never know,” he added.
We’re told right now, crews are conducting strictly ground-based operations, but it is possible air support could be used as soon as today.
There’s no estimate on when the fire may be out, and crews say the weather will play a key role in how quickly they are able to contain it.
The Wilbar Volunteer Fire Department which is assisting the McGrady Fire Department, said they helped to provide structural protection and put in hand lines, and helped monitor fire conditions. They said the winds, in combination with large amounts of dead wood from Hurricane Helene has made the fire challenging.
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Crews are also responding to a woods fire at Fall Creek Road and Laurel Road in Wilkes Co. The Champion Fire Department shared photos of the fire on Facebook. They said the fire had burned 45 acres and was 15% contained at the time of the post on Facebook. There’s still no word on what started that fire.
Wilkes County Schools released a statement, saying:
“We have been in constant communication with the school principals in the district near the fire, as well as our transportation department. At this time, we are not aware of any school operations or bus routes being impacted. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
RELATED COVERAGE
Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.