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 Final Update -- April 4, 2025

NOTE: This is the last update of the Rattlesnake Branch Fire by the Southern

Area Red Complex Incident Management Team. A smaller team will remain in

place for the remainder of the incident and can be reach at the contact above.

CRUSO, N.C., April 4, 2025 – The Rattlesnake Branch Fire remains at

approximately 1,843 acres and 26-percent contained. With several resources

returning home, more than 110 personnel continue to work on the fire.

Yesterday’s Activities

Yesterday, many firefighters and equipment were released from the fire because

they were in excess of current needs for the Rattlesnake Branch Fire. Management

of the fire has shifted to monitoring, patrolling and completing data collection for

structure protection and potential places for fire line construction. In the Crawford

Creek Area, crews cleared roads for emergency access. Most of the assessment

work yesterday was northwest and west of the fire, near the Camp Daniel Boone

Boy Scout Camp and including the Frazier and Little East Fork Road systems. The

drone flew up to the peak of Cold Mountain and checked the southern fire perimeter

for heat signatures. Some areas of the fire received more rain yesterday.

Today’s Activities

More firefighters and equipment will be released from the fire today. Remaining

personnel will continue to patrol and mop up around structures in Crawford Creek

and Cruso, as needed, and improve fire lines to protect structures in the Burnett,

Lenoir and Dix creek drainages and around the Boy Scout Camp.

A hotshot crew will also work to assess and clear trails on Cold Mountain. Roads

and fire lines used for fire suppression around Crawford Creek, Cruso and Burnette

Cove Road will be repaired, including installing water bars on roads to prevent

erosion. Firefighters will continue to collect data on potential future fire lines and

structures for a structure protection plan, including data on interior logging logs west

of the current fire footprint.

Weather/Fire Behavior: Today will be mostly cloudy with warmer temperatures and

strong southerly winds. A strong, rainy cold front arrives Sunday, with wetting rain

(1.5 – 1.75 inches) and thunderstorms. The high temperature today will be 71 -76

degrees with 45-48 percent minimum relative humidity. Winds will be south to

southwest, 10-14 mph with gusts to 32 mph.

Minimal fire activity is expected again today due to moisture retained by dead leaves

and woody vegetation on the ground.

Closures and Restrictions: The Pisgah National Forest has modified 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 in the

Shining Rock Wilderness Area only. Please stay safe and keep out of the wilderness

area.

A temporary flight restriction is in effect in and around the fire area. This includes

use of personal drones.

For wildfire updates, follow the National Forests in North Carolina on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/nfsnc or visit https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incidentinformation/

ncncf-rattlesnake-branch.

Termination of an Order

ORDER NUMBER: 08-03-00-25-01
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE CHATTAHOOCHEE-OCONEE NATIONAL FOREST
BLUE RIDGE RD, CHATTOOGA RIVER RD, CONASAUGA RD, & OCONEE RD

Pursuant to Title 36 CFR 261.50(a) and/or (b), the prohibition listed in Order 08-03-00-25-01, applicable to all lands and waters that comprise the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, Blue Ridge Ranger District, Chattooga River Ranger District, Conasauga Ranger District, and Oconee Ranger District, Georgia, dated March 27, 2025, is hereby terminated effective April 04, 2025. Executed in Gainesville, Georgia, this 4th day of April 2025.

April 4, 2025 

Acres: 3,434 acres                                                                                       Start Date: 03/22/2025 

Location: Clayton, GA                                                                                   Personnel: 224 

Containment: 88%                                                                                        Fuels: Timber 

Resources: 4 crews | 11 engines | 3 dozers | 1 helicopter |1 Masticator| 1 Excavator

Highlights: On Saturday the Southern Area Gold Complex Incident Management Team will turn management of the Big Ridge Fire back to the Forest.  The Forest Type 3 Team will be responsible for completing suppression and repair work on the Fire.  Yesterday structure protection specialists from the Georgia Forestry Commission completed their work around the Big Ridge Fire. 

Fire Activity: No fire spread is expected today.  The only remaining heat on the fire consists of large logs and stump holes.  Crews will be focused on finding and extinguishing these remaining sources of heat on the fire.  Another activity occurring today is fireline repair, which consists of restoring any damage caused by suppression actions. 

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:  The forecast today calls for 82 degrees, 47% minimum humidity, and winds southwest 8-12 mph. There will be occasional gusts to 22. There is a 20% chance of thunderstorms today and tomorrow.  A frontal system is forecast to impact the region Sunday into Sunday night, with widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms expected over the incident area. Chance of wetting rain is 80%.

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: 

Air Quality: https://www.airnow.gov/ 

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

Email: 2025.BigRidge@firenet.gov 

Fire Information: 770-530-3950    

Big Ridge Fire Recorded Information Line: 706-982-4729                      

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

Sky Valley

GOOD to MODERATE air quality is expected, with fire activity significantly decreasing.

SMOKE
Much of the area will likely have GOOD to MODERATE air quality. However, strong winds from the south may cause air quality impacts originating outside the outlook area. Greenville, Spartanburg, Pickens, and Taylors may have periods of MODERATE air around midday.

SPECIAL STATEMENT
Stay informed of evacuation orders, air quality alerts, fire danger information, and other public safety advisories in your area.

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.

FINAL OUTLOOK
This is the final smoke outlook for this incident.

Yesterday firefighters completed 20 acres of pile burning in the North Shore project, along High Valley Rd near Lakeview campground. Today firefighters are continuing to take advantage of recent precipitation and snow on the ground. Firefighters will attempt to burn piles in the Bartlett Springs area, potentially 11 acres if conditions are favorable. Smoke impacts have been minimal and confined mainly to the prescribed fire units. Some flames may be visible overnight due to large-diameter logs burning within the pile’s footprint. Conditions in all prescribed fire units are closely monitored and will be patrolled through the weekend and into next week. 

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 -- April 3, 2025

CRUSO, N.C., April 3, 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 of the hardwood leaves and branches on the ground. The cause remains under investigation.

The fire is approximately 1,843 acres and 26 percent contained, equating to 93 percent of the fire under a containment strategy. The reduction in acreage is due to better mapping. Nearly 180 personnel are on the fire.

Yesterday’s Activities

Firefighters made good progress yesterday, increasing containment in the Crawford Creek area. They used intelligence gathered from an infrared flight by the drone to find hot spots. Crews mopped them up in Crawford Creek and around homes in Cruso. Structure protection remained a focus of work in the Burnette Cove Road area and structure assessments continued throughout areas around the fire. Firefighters connected fire lines in Lenoir Creek west to Dix Creek. They scouted areas to extend fire containment lines further west and south. Isolated rain showers fell overnight, with some areas possibly receiving up to an inch of precipitation.

Today’s Activities

Due to the good work firefighters have done to contain the fire and construct fire lines, moderated fire activity, and predicted wet weather, firefighters and equipment will begin to be released from the fire today. Management of the fire will transition to monitoring and patrolling, as well as completing data collection for structure protection and potential places for fire line construction. Most of the assessment work will be done northwest and west of the fire, especially in areas near the Camp Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp, including the Fazier and Little East Fork Road systems.

Because the complexity of managing remaining work has decreased, the Southern Area Red Complex Management Team will transition to a Type 3 (smaller) organization on Saturday morning.

A drone is assigned to the fire to help with mapping and reconnaissance and will fly over the fire today. Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are available, if needed.

Weather/Fire Behavior: Today will be partly cloudy with a 40-percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. The high temperature will be 69-75 degrees with 43-47 percent minimum relative humidity. Winds will be south to southwest, 10-14 mph with gusts 13-27 mph.

Minimal fire activity is expected again today. Heat retained in large logs and dead trees may come to life. Live and dead vegetation on the ground may become receptive to fire in exposed areas on southern-facing or canopy-damaged slopes and ridges later in the day if cloud cover decreases. 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.

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!

For wildfire updates, follow the National Forests in North Carolina on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nfsnc or visit https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ncncf-rattlesnake-branch.