Press release from incident management team:
The Party Rock Fire is now 70% contained but small flames and smoke are still visible within the fire’s footprint, as lingering hot spots flare up. About 300 fire fighters and support personnel remain on the fire. The crews are working diligently to find and extinguish any trouble spots that could threaten containment lines. Rain is forecast early next week so crews are also taking steps to make sure the bulldozer lines and hand lines which were constructed during the firefight, don’t contribute to erosion if significant rain falls. Total acreage remains at 7,171.
“Some people almost lost their homes during this fire,” says Incident Commander Link Smith, “and we owe it to them to ensure they’re not threatened again.” An infrared flight over the fire last night still shows hot spots and crews are still finding embers hidden under the leaves and other forest debris. Once again today fire fighters will use hand-held infrared cameras to locate any remaining heat sources near the fire lines.
The main attraction (the rock itself) and visitor center at Chimney Rock State Park re-opens to the public today, however the remainder of the park is closed until further notice. The Welcome Center at Lake Lure is also re-opening today.
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 open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. at 828-513-2500.
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