April 2, 2025 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Transylvania County Forest Fire Update, 6 PM 

See www.transylvaniacounty.org/2025-wildfire 

Future updates will be issued daily unless conditions change while under the Transylvania County State of Emergency for Wildfire. 

Transylvania County, NC Fire Updates 

• The North Carolina State and Transylvania County burning bans are lifted effective this morning.
• The last remaining uncontained line is all in the rugged terrain on the NC side and is the operational priority today. So, most team activity will be in that area.
• SAIM used multiple sources to detect heat interior of the perimeter yesterday afternoon and overnight and found very little visual signs of fire. There were only small dots that are likely burning stumps. Realistically, these stump holes could burn for weeks, but are well within burned area containment lines, so there is very low risk of spread from those heat sources. Anyone returning to the area should avoid these places because they could sink causing injury.
• Highway 276 remains in local access only. While it is passable, we are encouraging minimal traffic due to continued use of the area with heavy equipment and firefighter activity. This is a safety issue for crews working the fire.
• Future plans - once mop-up work is completed, a smaller number of crews will conduct soil stabilization work (rehab) to prevent erosion from future rain events. More to come on that element.
• Transylvania County is partnering with the Southern Area Incident Management Blue Team and North Carolina Emergency Management Department to provide some public education tools to better understand the forest fires and what happens during an emergency.
• Three boards have been posted by the SAIM Blue Team. They are located at Cedar Mountain Fire Department, The Outpost and at Transylvania County Public Safety.  These boards are updated daily with maps and information on the fire operation. 

Table Rock Complex Incident Command Update 

The Southern Area Blue Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) is managing the Table Rock Complex, in unified command with multiple state and local agencies in both North and South Carolina. 

Persimmon Ridge Fire 

Size: 2,078 acres 

Containment: 74 percent 

Fire Start Date: March 22, 2025 

Cause: Human-caused 

Firefighters on the Persimmon Ridge Fire will continue using heavy equipment to break up large, downed trees from Hurricane Helene to reduce the amount of fuel available to burn. Fire engines will patrol the containment lines and extinguish any remaining hotspots near the fire perimeter. 

 Table Rock Fire 

Size: 13,564 acres 

12,929 acres (SC) 635 acres (NC) 

Containment: 68 percent Fire Start 

Date: March 21, 2025 

Cause: Human-caused 

Tuesday saw a significant jump in containment on the Table Rock Fire as it increased from 30 percent to 68 percent. Several unmanned aircraft flights identified a small number of hotspots near the fire’s edge that will be addressed today. In general, infrared mapping revealed that the fire perimeter is secure even though heat remains on the interior of the fire. Firefighters will continue to patrol the perimeter of the fire, drop any snags that could fall across containment lines and mopup any hotspots near the line. Crews will begin backhauling equipment today. This involves removing hoses, pumps and other equipment so it can be refurbished and reused on future fires. 

Rattlesnake Ridge Fire, US Forestry Service Update (Fire has not breached into Transylvania) 

Note: Please drive cautiously on State Route 276 and other roads around the fire. Please do not stop along the side of the road for your protection and the protection of firefighters and equipment. 

The fire is approximately 1,851 acres and 24 percent contained. The reduction in acreage is due to better mapping. Nearly 180 personnel are working on the fire..   

Closures and Restrictions: The Pisgah National Forest has issued an area closure of the Shining Rock Wilderness Area to protect the public from wildfire and firefighting operations. This closure includes all National Forest System land between US-276 and NC-215 north of the Blue Ridge Parkway (between mile markers 405 and 420). Please stay safe and keep out of these areas 

A temporary flight restriction is in effect in and around the fire area. This includes use of personal drones. If you fly, we cannot fly!