Single Publication

Bee Rock Creek Fire Update for 4/19/25 – Grandfather Ranger District – McDowell County.

Firefighters have achieved 27% containment on the 1,047-acre Bee Rock Creek Fire burning in steep terrain and storm debris in McDowell County near the Armstrong State Fish Hatchery. Yesterday, firefighters mopped up along Armstrong Creek Road, extinguishing hotspots to secure containment lines. Helicopters dropped water to slow fire growth in support of the firefighters working on the ground. 

Data from last night’s infrared flight showed heat near the south side of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This morning firefighters, including 2 Interagency Hotshot crews, investigated the area on foot and with the use of a drone but could not find a fire. 

If weather conditions allow, firefighters will implement strategic firing operations to reduce the amount of unburned fuel between the fire and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Smoke from this planned event may affect McDowell, Mitchell and Yancey counties.

Firefighters use carefully planned strategic firing operations while weather conditions will keep fire behavior low. In anticipation of the strategic firing operations, firefighters have removed storm debris and constructed dozer lines from the Parkway down towards the main fire area on the east and west sides to contain the fire within this area.

The National Forests in North Carolina has issued a closure order for the area of the Bee Rock Creek Fire. National Forest System lands between Armstrong Creek Road and the Blue Ridge Parkway are closed to entry for public and firefighter safety. 

The USDA Forest Service, North Carolina Forest Service, National Park Service, McDowell County and Woodlawn Fire Department have 174 personnel working to suppress the fire and create containment lines to stop the spread of the fire.

McDowell County Emergency Management has issued an evacuation order for all residences on Wild Acres Road off of NC 226 A. Click to view McDowell County’s live evacuation map.

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the fire area each day from 10 a.m. to midnight. See the map at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_7644. Aircraft, including drones, are prohibited from flying to provide a safe environment for firefighting. If you fly, we can’t. If a drone is spotted near the fire, all aircraft are grounded until the drone is clear of the area. 

Please be aware of smoke and crews in the area. Drive slowly and use caution on roads where smoke may be settling. Check air quality at https://airquality.climate.ncsu.edu/ or https://fire.airnow.gov.