Incident Publication

March 30, 2025 

Acres: 2,709 acres                                                                                           Start Date: 03/22/2025 

Location: Clayton, GA                                                                                    Personnel: 249 

Containment: 0%                                                                                          Fuels: Timber 

Resources: 14 crews | 9 engines | 3 dozers | 1 helicopter 

Highlights: Rain showers are expected today along with the possibility of thunderstorms. More rain is expected Monday. On Saturday firefighters made good progress on the Big Ridge Fire. On the southwest side the fire continued to advance, but firefighters successfully conducted a strategic firing operation along the 155E Road north of Dan Gap.

Fire Activity: Little fire activity is expected today because of higher humidity and light rain.  Firefighters will take advantage of these improved conditions to construct direct fireline where terrain allows. The north side of the fire closest to Sky Valley continues to be quiet with few hotspots being found. Crews will be working on constructing line from Wilson Knob to Blackstump Gap. They also will be working from Dan Gap to Walnut Fork on the south. North of Rabun Gap firefighters have completed the primary line from Beegum Gap to Hale Ridge and today crews are looking for opportunities to construct line closer to the fire’s edge.

The U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations is seeking information regarding the circumstances around the cause of the Big Ridge Fire. If anyone was in the area on March 22, 2025, and observed suspicious activity please call the Georgia Forestry Commission Arson Hotline 1-800-428-7337.

Weather:  Today’s forecast calls for 67 degrees and minimum relative humidity of 65%. Winds will be southeast with sustained speeds of 10-15 mph and gusts of 20-25 mph. More rain is expected tomorrow. Rainfall totals over the two days expected to be 0.75 to 1.0 inch.

Evacuations: None.  

Closures: A closure order is in place for the vicinity of the Big Ridge Fire. For details visit https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-closures/gachf-big-ridge-fire

More Information: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChattOconeeNF              

Email: 2025.BigRidge@firenet.gov 

Fire Information: 770-530-3950                          

Inciweb:  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/gachf-big-ridge-fire

SMOKE
Decreased fire activity and winds from the south will likely combine to reduce smoke in the forecast area. Clemson, Greenville, and Spartanburg will likely have MODERATE to GOOD air. Taylors, Pickens, and Sky Valley will have air that is MODERATE, with potential periods of UNHEALTHY FORSENSITIVE GROUPS. Catawba Nation will likely have GOOD air quality.

SPECIAL STATEMENT
Stay informed of evacuation orders, airquality alerts, fire danger information,and other public safety advisories inyour area. Due to erratic winds fromincoming thunderstorms and largenumber of fires in the area, smokeimpacts have the potential to changequickly.

HEALTH STATEMENT
Smoke can be harmful to your health. Check with your doctor if there are any health concerns and monitor your local air quality conditions using the Fire and Smoke Map.

U.S. Forest Service News Release

Media Contact:

Southern Area Red Team

2025.RattlesnakeBranch@firenet.gov

(828) 519-8242

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ncncf-rattlesnake-branch

https://www.facebook.com/nfsnc/

Rattlesnake Branch Fire Daily Update -- March 29, 2025

Note: Please drive cautiously on Road 276 and other roads around the fire. Please do not stop along the side of the road for your protection and the protection of firefighters and equipment.

CLYDE, N.C., March 29, 2025--The Rattlesnake Branch Fire is on private land and the Shining Rock Wilderness Area on Pisgah National Forest around the community of Cruso, approximately 11 miles southeast of Waynesville, North Carolina. It started on March 26, 2025, and quickly spread due to dry conditions and hardwood leaves and branches on the ground. The cause is under investigation. 

The fire is approximately 1,200 acres and 20-percent contained. More than 80 personnel are on the fire, with more firefighters and equipment on the way.

Yesterday’s Activities

Firefighters made good progress protecting homes in Cruso yesterday. They put in a fire containment line between the area where the fire started and Cold Creek, allowing them to burn around homes, igniting from the ground and from a helicopter to reduce burnable vegetation and secure homes. In the Crawford Creek area, the fire continued to flank uphill. Firefighters used tactical burning to keep the fire above homes in this area. They also provided structure protection as a precautionary measure to reduce their fire risk. The fire continued to burn throughout the night under the watch of night crews.

The Southern Area Red Complex Incident Management Team arrived to help the Pisgah National Forest manage the fire.

Today’s Activities

This morning, the Southern Area Red Team joined command of the Rattlesnake Branch Fire. Crews will continue to protect homes in Cruso and identify areas for putting in more bulldozer fire lines from Cold Creek to Burnett Cove to protect private property. They will do strategic firing operations from helicopter, backing the fire down to reduce the risk of it running uncontrolled upslope and potentially spotting into drainages to the west.

Firefighters will continue to keep the fire from burning downhill towards homes in the Crawford Creek area and will expand assessment of structures needing protection, working westward. They will put in a fire containment line and begin to improve road access for firefighting efforts.

Helicopters and fixed-wing “super scoopers” are available to help fight the fire.

Weather/Fire Behavior: Today will be mostly cloudy, moderating fire behavior. Temperature highs will be in the mid-60s with relative humidity in the mid-40s percent. Winds will be south/southwest 8-14 mph, gusting 20-28 mph.

Dead and down hardwood tree litter, rhododendron and laurel shrubs and conifer species such as white pine are the primary fuels burning in the Rattlesnake Branch Fire. With fire activity expected to be minimal today due to the weather, fire behavior analyst Gary Jarvis said to firefighters, “Today should be a good day to get out there and size things up - fire will be on your side today, not the extreme stuff we’ve seen in the past few days.”

Air quality information is available at Smoke Outlook for Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina, www.airnow.gov and www.wildlandfiresmoke.net. 

Closures and Restrictions: The Pisgah National Forest has issued an area closure of the Shining Rock Wilderness Area to protect the public from wildfire and firefighting operations. This closure includes all National Forest System land between US-276 and NC-215 north of the Blue Ridge Parkway (between mile markers 405 and 420). Please stay safe and keep out of these areas.

Following the statewide burn ban issued for North Carolina, the USDA Forest Service issued a fire restriction on open burning National Forest land, including building, maintaining or using campfires, open stove fires and fire rings, to mitigate wildfire risks. 

A temporary flight restriction is in effect in and around the fire area. This includes use of personal drones. If you fly, we cannot fly!

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March 29, 2025 

Acres: 1,936 acres                                                                                           Start Date: 03/22/2025 

Location: Clayton, GA                                                                                    Personnel: 166 

Containment: 0%                                                                                          Fuels: Timber 

Resources:      8 crews | 6 engines | 2 dozer | 1 helicopter 

Highlights: Reduced fire activity is expected today on the Big Ridge Fire because of higher humidity and reduced winds. On Friday, the fire crossed the Bartram Trail near Flat Top, but airtankers kept it from making progress. On the south side, the fire is being held along Hoods Creek. There will be a virtual public meeting today from 12-1 p.m. at https://meet.google.com/qcj-ukgz-mcf or by phone at 440-482-1399, PIN 359 161 763#.

Fire Activity: Today firefighters will be constructing direct line on the part of the fire that crossed the Bartram Trail near Flat Top. On the north side of the fire, crews will be completing handline from Beegum Gap to Hale Ridge Road. Once this line is completed, they will be looking for opportunities to construct direct line on the fire’s edge on the east side. On the southwest side of the fire, crews will be constructing direct line from Walnut Creek to Flat Top following Hoods Creek. Firefighters are also scouting and constructing secondary control lines in case these primary control lines are compromised.

The U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations is seeking information regarding the circumstances around the cause of the Big Ridge Fire. If anyone was in the area on March 22, 2025, and observed suspicious activity please call the Georgia Forestry Commission Arson Hotline 1-800-428-7337.

Weather:  Today’s forecast calls for 70 degrees and minimum relative humidity of 40%. Winds will be southeast with sustained speeds of 10 mph and gusts of 15-20 mph. On Sunday there is an 80% chance of showers which continues into Monday. Smoke levels will increase from evening through the morning in the valleys.

Evacuations: None.  

Closures: A closure order is in place for the vicinity of the Big Ridge Fire.  For details visit https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-closures/gachf-big-ridge-fire

More Information: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChattOconeeNF              

Email: 2025.BigRidge@firenet.gov 

Fire Information: 770-530-3950                          

Inciweb:  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/gachf-big-ridge-fire

The Pintler Ranger District has developed prescribed fire implementation plans for the following units:

Flint Foothills - 11 miles southeast of Drummond

Gold Coin - 2 miles southwest of Maxville

Lone Pine - 18 miles southwest of Philipsburg

East Deer Lodge - 16 miles northeast of Anaconda

Maywood/Meadow Creek - 2 miles northeast of Maxville

The Madison Ranger District has developed prescribed fire implementation plans for the following units:

Greenhorn - 14 miles south of Virginia City

Badger Creek - 21 miles south of Virginia City (Upper Ruby Road)

Antelope - 45 miles south of Ennis, along Highway 87

Crews will continue to patrol and secure the burn perimeter today and into the weekend. Light smoke may be visible. Over the burn area there is a chance of rain tonight and snow into the weekend.

The Wisdom Ranger District has developed prescribed fire implementation plans for the following units:

Wisdom Admin Site - just southeast of Wisdom at FS site

Trail Creek - 17 miles west of Wisdom, along Hwy 43 on Trail Creek Road 106

Steel Creek - 2 miles east of Wisdom

The Dillon Ranger District has developed prescribed fire implementation plans for the following units:

French Creek - 4 miles northwest of Argenta

Middle Fork Little Sheep Creek - 10 miles southwest of Lima

The Butte Ranger District has developed prescribed fire implementation plans for the following units:

Red Rocks  - 1 mile west of the Bernice exit on I-15, between Butte and Boulder, MT. 
Fleecer  - 3 miles west of the Feely exit on I-15, south of Rocker, MT.