Press release from N.C. Forest Service:
Because the threat from the Party Rock Fire has diminished, all evacuation and pre-evacuation notices for the Town of Lake Lure and surrounding neighborhoods are cancelled as of noon today. This includes those parts of the Rumbling Bald Resort that have been under a mandatory evacuation notice: Deerfield; Fairfield; Youngs Mountain; and Quail Ridge. The pre-evacuation notice for Three Creeks, Cedar Creek Road, Buffalo Creek Road, Riverbend Highlands, Tatanka, Apple Valley, Shumont Estates and Buffalo Shoals, is also cancelled as of noon today.
A state of emergency remains in effect for the town of Lake Lure. Fire and town officials caution everyone that the recently burned areas contain many hazards, including damaged and standing dead trees called snags, that can fall without warning at any time. There are also stump holes, some of which may still contain enough heat to cause serious burns to people and pets.
The Lake Town Hall is now open for normal business hours, but only through the front entrance, and using the front parking lot. The rest of the area around the municipal building is still being used as an incident command post and is closed to the public. The park also remains closed as it serves as fire base camp, with access restricted to incident personnel. Visitors to town hall should use caution because of the high volume of fire and emergency traffic.
Party Rock Fire information can be found on INCIWEB (inciweb.nwcg.gov/) or on the Town of Lake Lure website (www.townoflakelure.com/).
Press release from N.C. Forest Service:
Chimney Rock Village will be opened to the public at noon on Monday, November 21. This area has been closed due to the Party Rock Fire, and only recently opened to Village business owners and residents. Trucks delivering food and other commerce supplies, and school buses will have access to the Village and highway 74A/64 starting immediately after Sunday midnight. Henderson County school buses will also resume their normal travel routes on November 21.
While access to Chimney Rock Village is being opened to the public, it is essential that those traveling through or visiting the area remain vigilant to the dangers that still exist due to the wildfire. The public is strongly encouraged to stay out of the burned woodlands. Many dangers still exist, such as trees that are weakened from the fire and smoldering stump holes. Standing dead and cured trees, otherwise known as snags, may fall without warning and cause serious injury or death. Because of the fire, there are more snags than normal posing a danger to those entering the fire’s footprint.
The Rumbling Bald Resort area remains closed at this time. “The situation is still serious and we need to see what the fire does with this evening’s gusty winds before our re-entry decision is made,” said Lake Lure Mayor Bob Keith on the status on the Rumbling Bald Resort.
Party Rock Fire information can be found on INCIWEB (http://inciweb.nwcg.gov//) or on the Town of Lake Lure website (http://www.townoflakelure.com/).
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