From the North Carolina Forest Service:
Fire Lines Hold Through Three Days of Wind
Fire fighters will continue to “mop-up” the fire perimeter today, thankful that fire lines have held after three straight days of strong winds. Mop-up is the process of making sure all hot spots near the perimeter are out cold. Crews will remain vigilant since the fuels that drove the growth of the Party Rock Fire are still critically dry and more fuel, in the form of falling leaves, were being spread by the wind. Hot spots remain and have been visible, especially at night, and those are being dealt with if they pose a threat to structures or the containment lines. Winds are expected to be light today.
Some fire crews were released last night and more will go home, or to other fires, today. No further donations are needed to support the personnel that remain. All remaining road closures and evacuation notices were lifted as of noon yesterday and the one remaining evacuation center is closing today.
After managing the fire for two weeks, The Brandon North Carolina Incident Management team is also heading home tomorrow. An Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team is now on site and will take command of the fire Wednesday.
Party Rock Fire information can be found on INCIWEB (inciweb.nwcg.gov/) or on the Town of Lake Lure website (www.townoflakelure.com/). A public information center phone line is still staffed from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. at 828-513-2500 but a second number that is listed on older news releases, which begins with a 336 prefix, is being disconnected.
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