March 30, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

101 South Broad Street Brevard, NC 28712

Transylvania County Forest Fire Update, 8:30 PM

Note: Information on this event along with additional resource information can be accessed by going to www.transylvaniacounty.org. Reports will be issued two times per day effective March

31. Updates are being posted on Transylvania County Facebook page, but please note there is not capacity with the state of emergency and response to monitor comments or respond to individual messages.

Transylvania County, NC Fire Updates

• Preliminary estimates reflect approximately 606 Acres have been burned in Transylvania County including approximately 2.4 acres of private property. Most of the damage has occurred on state forest land and no homes have been damaged due to the fire.
• After reviewing current conditions and operational plans across federal, state and local agencies, the mandatory evacuation orders are being lifted for residences in Transylvania County, North Carolina. At this stage, the fire in North Carolina has been primarily on state forest lands with minimal impact to private property. Residents previously under the mandatory evacuation may return to their homes. The maps are being revised to show a yellow zone reflecting area where residents are advised to maintain situational awareness and have preparations in place should a new evacuation order be issued. The rain and the dedicated work of our first responder community have decreased the imminent threat to life and property. The burn ban remains in place and operations will continue to manage the Table Rock Fire. Please note that areas in South Carolina remain under evacuation order. The Emergency Shelter at Transylvania County Parks and Recreation is closed, but will reopen if evacuation orders are re-issued.
• A curfew remains in place for the previously evacuated area for March 30 from 8p-8a to allow residents to return to their homes safely and for first responders to continue activity in the area. Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office will continue to patrol the area.
• Rain has been helpful to the response area today, but drier conditions are expected in the next two days. Conditions can change rapidly. The need for new evacuations could arise so residents should maintain situational awareness. Those signed up for emergency alerts on the Transylvania County website will receive notifications of evacuation only if their address is impacted. All residents are encouraged to be proactive by registering their address and phone number in the county alert system. Take prevention measures around

your home and vehicles to remove dry leaves and vegetive debris that could be ignited with embers. A tutorial to support sign up is available on the county website at www.transylvaniacounty.org. Air quality is expected to improve into the yellow zone for Transylvania County tomorrow.

• Miscommunication can be dangerous and creates additional challenges in the response effort. We have received at least one fake facebook account posing as a government official posting fire sightings and citizens directing others to inaccurate information. Updates will be issued from Unified Command with multi-agency information on the effort underway on Transylvania County Social Media, website and through the alert system and shared through local partners.

Connestee Fire and Rescue Update

Connestee Fire and Rescue appreciates the community donations that have come in to support this effort, but additional donations are not needed at this time. If you have already purchased items to donate, please consider donating those items to Anchor Baptist Church to support other relief needs. Donations will be accepted at Anchor M-F from 8 AM- 5 PM. Connestee Fire Department will continue to host the operating base as the response consolidates efforts.

Crews were able to get some rest thanks to the rain and the support from other agencies providing relief. Thank you to all of our partner agencies and the community!

Cedar Mountain Fire and Rescue Update

A message board has been placed at Cedar Mountain Fire and Rescue. The message board will be updated with information on the Table Rock Complex Fire Response along with additional information for residents regarding the forest fires.

The Hurry County support crew is still at Cedar Mountain and will continue to support the department’s response. Patrols will also continue in the area.

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.

On Saturday, crews had a successful strategic firing operation on the western perimeter connecting the fire to existing dozer lines. The fire grew to the north, slowing at the ridge top as it crossed over into North Carolina. On the northeast perimeter, the fire grew west of Matthews Creek. Expected rain this afternoon will support holding containment lines where strategic firing operations occurred Saturday, while also providing more opportunities to go direct where the fire crossed into Transylvania County, NC.

TABLE ROCK FIRE SIZE: 10,894 acres (SC)

574 acres (NC)

CONTAINMENT: 9%

START DATE: March 21, 2025

CAUSE: Human-caused

On Saturday, crews had a successful strategic firing operation on the western perimeter connecting the fire to existing dozer lines. The fire grew to the north, slowing at the ridge top as it crossed over into North Carolina. On the northeast perimeter, the fire grew west of Matthews Creek. Expected rain this afternoon will support holding containment lines where strategic firing operations occurred Saturday, while also providing more opportunities to go direct where the fire crossed into Transylvania County, NC.

PERSIMMON RIDGE FIRE

SIZE: 2,078 acres

CONTAINMENT: 24%

START DATE: March 22, 2025

CAUSE: Human-caused

Firefighters continue to secure containment lines on the east perimeter of the Persimmon Ridge fire. Containment lines along Highway 276 on the southwest perimeter are secure.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: Potential thunderstorms this afternoon with approximately 1/4-inch of rainfall across the fire today with winds from the south to southeast, allowing firefighters to strengthen containment lines. A return to drier conditions is expected Monday and Tuesday.

Rattlesnake Ridge Fire, US Forestry Service Update

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 Rattlesnake Branch Fire is on private land and the Shining Rock Wilderness Area on Pisgah National Forest around the community of Cruso, approximately 11 miles southeast of Waynesville, North Carolina. It started on March 26, 2025 and quickly spread due to dry conditions and hardwood leaves and branches on the ground. The cause is under investigation.

The fire is approximately 1,882 acres and 21 percent contained. 137 personnel are on the fire, with more firefighters and equipment on the way.

Today’s Activities

Today, crews will continue to hold and improve existing fire containment lines located south of Cold Creek Road and west of Route 276. They will protect homes and mop up in Cruso and identify areas for putting in more firelines in the Burnett Creek drainage from Cold Creek to Burnette Cove Road. This will include contacting private landowners to identify opportunities. They also will identify structures to protect in this area, north of the current footprint of the fire.

Firefighters will work along the flank of the fire as it backs down from ridgetops, occasionally doing some tactical burning to even up firelines so the backing fire does not pose a risk for rapid spread. Firefighters will continue fire protection of cabins in Crawford Creek and will continue to keep the fire from burning homes as it moves up the drainage.

A UAS (drone) is assigned to the fire to help with aerial ignition, mapping and reconnaissance. The drone will fly around the Cruso area today. Other aircraft available include two large

helicopters, two small helicopters, two air attack platforms and two and fixed-wing “super scoopers”.