Press release from Party Rock Fire Information Center:
Containment of the Party Rock Fire has increased to 19 percent and is 4,480 acres in size. Firefighters are continuing to protect structures and construct containment lines around the fire. Fire managers are preparing for strong winds later this week that could increase the size of the fire.
Henderson County emergency management and law enforcement officials will implement an evacuation of Highway 9 between the intersections of Highway 74-A and Shumont Road beginning at noon today (November 16). The evacuation notice will include all roads that connect to Highway 9. Evacuations should be completed by 5:00 p.m. Evacuated residents can shelter at Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 6th Avenue West in Hendersonville.
Yesterday the residents of the evacuated neighborhoods in the Boys Camp Road area were allowed to begin returning to their homes. To enter, residents must show proof of residence at the checkpoint by Boys Camp Road. Travel to this re-entry checkpoint must occur from the Lake Lure (south) side of Highway 74-A/64, and not from the Bat Cave (north) side of these roads; the Village of Chimney Rock remains closed.
There is no change in the status of other previous evacuations.
A community meeting will be held at noon Wednesday, November 16 at the Rumbling Bald Resort’s Legends Restaurant. A public information officer from the Party Rock Fire will provide an overview of the current fire status, planned fire suppression operations, and anticipated fire behavior with the predicted strong winds later this week. The meeting is for all interested area residents.
A stretch of Highway 74-A leading into Chimney Rock Village from the north and south remains closed. Road information can be accessed on the NCDOT Travel Information Management System website at https://tims.ncdot.gov/tims/regionsummary.aspx.
Party Rock Fire information can be found on INCIWEB or on the Town of Lake Lure Facebook page. Air Quality alerts can be obtained from the NWS at http://www.weather.gov/gsp/.
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