Fierce winds close roads as firefighters battle Great Smoky Mountains wildfires
High winds remained a concern Wednesday as firefighters continued to battle two wildfires that have spread across 960 acres in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, park officials said.
The fires were 60% contained by 8 p.m. Tuesday, but park officials said they started closing roads across the park Wednesday morning due to expected strong winds during the day.
A National Weather Service high wind warning for the mountains began at 8 a.m. Wednesday and will remain until 6 a.m. Thursday. NWS meteorologists expect sustained winds between 40 mph and 50 mph, with gusts up to 90 mph in the mountains, according to the warning.
As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, the fires were 60% contained, according to a park news release.
Strong winds and dry weather are expected through at least Thursday, so visitors should “exercise extreme caution,” park rangers urged in the release.
“Campfires should be fully extinguished and cigarettes properly disposed to prevent the accidental spread of wildfires,” according to the news release.
Power lines downed by high winds and fallen trees sparked both fires on Saturday, park officials said Sunday.
Officials closed various trails and camp sites at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday because of fire between Deep Creek and Newfound Gap Road in North Carolina, according to a park news release Saturday.
About 1 p.m. Saturday, park officials learned that a fire south of the park near Cooper Creek was approaching the park boundary, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. As they responded to the report, park rangers spotted another fire, near Stone Pile Gap near the Thomas Divide area, officials said.
Closed roads
Wednesday morning, park officials began closing Newfound Gap Road, Cades Cove Loop Road, Foothills Parkway West from Chilhowee Lake to Wears Valley, and Foothills Parkway East.
By noon, officials expected to begin closing Little River Road, Wear Cove Gap Road, Laurel Creek Road, Cherokee Orchard Road and Tremont Road.
Closed areas
Park officials also said these areas will remain closed:
▪ Deep Creek and Thomas Divide trails from Deep Creek to Newfound Gap Road.
▪ Pole Road Creek, Indian Creek, Stone Pile Gap, Deep Creek Horse Bypass, Juney Whank Falls, Deeplow, Fork Ridge, Sunkota Ridge, Martins Gap, Indian Creek Motor Nature, Mingus Creek, Newton Bald, Kanati Fork and Loop trails.
▪ Toms Branch Road near Deep Creek. The Deep Creek Campground and Picnic Area is scheduled to open for the season on April 15, according to the park.
Firebreak lines created
The two wildfires raged over the weekend in Thomas Divide: the 140-acre Stone Pile Fire and the 170-acre Cooper Creek Fire, according to the park.
By 8 p.m. Tuesday, the fires were 60% contained, according to park officials.
About 70 firefighters battled the fires as part of ground, engine and air crews, according to the park.
“Control lines are well established around the Stone Pile fire section, and crews will continue to monitor and address any remaining burning fuels in that area over the next few days,” according to the 8 p.m, Tuesday news release.
“The larger Cooper Creek Fire section has control lines well established around the southern border, and crews will continue to work (Wednesday) to strengthen northern control lines and to extinguish hot spots within the perimeter,” according to the release.
Firefighters quickly extinguished a half-acre human-caused fire Tuesday on Newfound Gap Road south of the Deep Creek Trailhead parking area, park officials said without releasing what caused the fire.
This is a developing story.
This story was originally published March 26, 2022 at 7:54 PM.