From the North Carolina Forest Service:
N.C. Forest Service Fire Prevention Education Team heads to Western North Carolina
In an effort to decrease the number of human-caused wildfires in Western North Carolina, the N.C. Forest Service has deployed a Fire Prevention Education Team (FPET). The team arrived yesterday and is working out of the Montreat Conference Center Assembly Inn, which is located east of Asheville in Black Mountain.
In addition to assisting with the information delivery for wildfires occurring in the mountains of Western North Carolina, the FPET will also engage directly with communities, distribute wildfire prevention information and work with the media to help raise public awareness about the current fire danger situation.
The entire Southern United States is experiencing an increase in wildfire activity due to extreme drought conditions and warmer than average temperatures, and North Carolina is no exception. A lack of precipitation, potential for high, gusty wind events and above normal temperatures have elevated the wildfire danger, particularly in Western North Carolina, where new starts are occurring almost daily. This trend of dry weather is expected to continue at least through November and likely into December. This, combined with the impending leaf drop, is causing concern that the number and severity of human caused wildfires in the area will increase.
Currently there are a number of large wildfires burning in the mountains of North Carolina, in particular on the Tusquitee and Nantahala Ranger Districts of the Nantahala National Forest in southwestern North Carolina. The N.C. Forest Service is sending wildland firefighter crews and other resources to Western North Carolina to assist with the situation. The Southern Area Coordination Center (SACC) is also prepositioning firefighting resources to help combat fires in the southern area.
There is currently a burn ban in effect in 25 western North Carolina counties until further notice. The possibility of a burn ban in other areas continues to be a daily topic of discussion.
The National Weather Service has also issued an Air Quality Alert until midnight on Tuesday, November 8 for many areas in western North Carolina due to the number and severity of wildfires burning.
For more information regarding the mission of the N.C. Fire Prevention Education Team call (828) 419-9842 or email ncfsregion3fpet@gmail.com.
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