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.
 

Highlights: Today at 6 a.m. the Southern Area Gold Complex Incident Management Team assumed management of the Big Ridge Fire under the leadership of Incident Commander Paul Varnedoe. The Gold Team expresses its appreciation to the Forest Type 3 Team, Rabun Couty Sheriff’s Office, cooperators, collaborators and the community for their support to the firefighters. Firelines on the north side of the fire continued to hold Thursday and there was growth to the south and east. A virtual public meeting will be held in Sky Valley Saturday with details to follow.

Fire Activity: Today firefighters will focus holding the north line from Rabun Bald to Wilson Knob to keep the fire from Sky Valley. Crews will continue constructing direct line from Wilson Knob to south to Walnut Fork. On the southeast side of the fire line is being constructed from Sara’s Creek to Hale Ridge Road, which will serve as the eastern primary control line. On the north, line is being constructed from Beegum Gap to Hale Ridge Road following Holcomb 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:  A Red Flag Waring is in effect today for critical fire danger. Today’s forecast calls for 72 degrees and minimum relative humidity of 19%. Winds will be southwest with sustained speeds of 10 mph and gusts of 23 mph. Temperatures and wind will increase early Saturday ahead of a change to higher humidity and possible rainfall after dark on Saturday into Sunday morning.

Evacuations: None.  

Closures: 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

Rattlesnake Branch Fire Daily Update. March 28, 2025

Location: Less than one mile southwest of Cruso, North Carolina 

Start date: March 26, 2025 

Estimated size: 629 acres 

Containment: 5 percent 

Personnel: 80 

Firefighters from the USDA Forest Service, the North Carolina Forest Service and nearby counties continue to make progress to contain the Rattlesnake Branch Fire.  

Initially igniting on private land in Haywood County, the fire has continued to spread into both state- and federally managed public lands, including the Shining Rock Designated Wilderness Area on the Pisgah National Forest. These areas include hardwood forests impacted by Hurricane Helene.  

Firefighters have constructed dozer lines and handlines near State Highway 276 to protect structures and conducted burnout operations to remove fuel near homes.  

Weather: Conditions this spring have increased fire danger in North Carolina. Above- average temperatures are expected today with a southwesterly breeze gusting to 25 mph. Saturday should remain dry with warm daytime highs reaching the upper 70s to lower 80s. Increased fire activity will increase smoke production and degrade air quality in the area. Asheville and surrounding areas will likely see air that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. 

Closures and Restrictions: Shining Rock Wilderness Area is closed due to the spread of the Rattlesnake Branch Fire. 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). Visitor and employee safety are the highest priorities for the Forest Service, so the public should stay out of this area while federal, state and local fire crews work to contain the blaze. 

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

For wildfire updates, follow the National Forests in North Carolina on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nfsnc. Updates will be posted on our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/nfsnc/alerts-notices. 

Smoke Outlook - Western North Carolina - Upstate South Carolina 

FIRE RESTRICTIONS

Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50 (a) and (b), for the protection of the public and natural resources, the following act or omission is prohibited on all lands and waters that comprise the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Georgia. The provisions shall remain in effect from March 27, 2025, through June 30, 2025, or until terminated by an authorized Forest Service official, whichever occurs first.

Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire (including charcoal-based fire whether contained in a grill or not).
36 CFR 261.52(a)

Possessing, discharging, or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device. 36 CFR 261.52(f).

Note: Commercially available fuel stoves (camp stoves) are excluded from this restriction.

Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
1.Persons with a permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.
2.Any Federal, State or Local Law Enforcement Officer or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 CFR Part 261, Subpart A. Executed in Gainesville, Georgia, this 27th day of March 2025.

Order No. 08-03-05-25-02
FOREST ORDER

Pursuant to the provisions of 16 USC §551, and Title 36 CFR §261.50(a) and 261.50(b), the area of National Forest System lands in the “Big Ridge Fire Area” located on the Chattooga River Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is closed to entry. The area is closed to entering or occupying in order to minimize risks to public health and safety, to provide for disaster and safety operations, and to protect forest resources while responding to and recovering from the Big Ridge Fire. This Order is effective through April 30, 2025, or until rescinded by an authorized Forest Service official, whichever occurs first.

The area is signed closed from entering or occupying until further indicated on the attached map. Only National Forest System lands are impacted by this closure. Some private land inholdings appear within the area perimeter, but this order does not apply to lands that are not National Forest System lands. The closure includes all National Forest System lands inside the following perimeter:
•East of US 23 / US 441
•North of Warwoman Rd
•West of Hale Ridge Rd (FSR 7)
•South of Georgia state line (GA/NC border)

The closure area bounded by this perimeter includes, but is not limited to, the following facilities, trails, and roads:

Recreation Facilities & Areas
•Darnell Creek Shooting Range – Closed to all visitors and activities
•Sarah’s Creek Campground – Closed to all visitors and activities
•Warwoman WMA – Closed to all visitors and activities

Trails
•Bartram Trail (FST 164) – Closed to all types of traffic from Warwoman Dell to Hale Ridge Rd(FSR 7) and closed to all visitors
•Bartram Trail Connector (Beegum Gap to Bartram Trail) – Closed to all visitors and activities
•Becky Branch Trail (FST 65)– Closed to all visitors and activities
•Courthouse Gap (FST 47) - Closed to all visitors and activities
•Darnell Creek Horse Trail (FST 61) – Closed to all traffic and activities
•Pinnacle Knob Trail (FST 58) - Closed to all visitors and activities
•Rabun Bald Trail (FST 211) – Closed to all traffic and activities

Roads
•Chintilly Rd (FSR 156A) – Closed to all types of traffic and visitors
•Dan Gap Rd (FSR 155E) – Closed to all types of traffic and visitors
•Darnell Creek Rd (FSR 150) – Closed to all types of traffic and visitors
•Finney Creek Rd (FSR 153) – Closed to all types of traffic and visitors
•Hale Ridge Rd (FSR 7) – Closed to all types of traffic and visitors from intersection with TotteryPole Rd (FSR 86C) to the north to the USFS property line
•Rabun Bald Rd (FSR 413) - Closed to all visitors and all forms of traffic
•Sarah’s Creek Rd (FSR 156) – Closed to all traffic and visitors
•Tuckaluge Creek Rd (FSR 153) – Closed to all traffic and visitors
•Walnut Fork Rd (FSR 155) – Closed to all traffic and visitors

The above prohibited acts are set forth in Title 36 CFR §261.53(e) Special Closures for Public Health or Safety. It is prohibited to go into or be upon any of the area described in this order.

Pursuant to §261.50(e) the following persons are exempt from the above prohibitions:(e) the following persons are exempt from the above prohibitions:
1.Persons with a permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.
2.Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of their official duty.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 CFR Part 261, Subpart A. Executed in Gainesville, Georgia, this 27th day of March, 2025.

A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both. 16 USC 551 and 18 USC 3559, 3571 and 3581.

Magic Feather Prescribed Burn updates for THURSDAY, March 26, 2025:

Today crews will focus on securing the perimeter of the burned area, snagging trails, and continue patrolling the area. 

March 27, 2025 

Acres: 812 acres                                                                                               Start Date: 03/22/2025 

Location: Clayton, GA                                                                                    Personnel: 205 

Containment: 0%                                                                                          Fuels: Timber 

Resources:      5 crews | 4 engines | 1 dozer | 1 helicopter 

Highlights: On Wednesday the strategic firing operations to secure Big Ridge Fire control lines from Rabun Bald to Saltrock Gap were successful and this line is in place and holding.  At the same time the fire crossed the initial control lines along Walnut Fork on the southwest side of the fire.  Wind speeds will be slightly lower today, but humidity will remain low so fire behavior will remain active.  The Southern Area Gold Complex Incident Management Team will assume command of the fire on Friday.

Fire Activity: Today firefighters will focus on improving and holding the north line from Rabun Bald to Saltrock Gap to keep the fire from Sky Valley.  Crews will be scouting direct line locations from Saltrock Gap to Fat Top and then south to Walnut Fork.  They will also be looking to establish lines from Rabun Bald to Coldspring Gap. Indirect line construction will continue from Rabun Bald north to Beegum Gap and then on to Hale Ridge Road.  Substantial smoke will be visible from the Big Ridge Fire today and may settle into Warwoman Valley at night. 

The United States 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:  Winds are not expected to be quite as strong on today, but RH values will once again be dropping into the mid-teens. Today’s forecast calls for 68 degrees, minimum relative humidity of 19%, and winds will be westerly with sustained speeds of 10 mph and gusts of 21 mph. The rest of the week will be dry, but winds will be less strong.  Temperatures and wind will increase again Friday and early Saturday ahead of a change to higher humidity and possible rainfall after dark on Saturday into Sunday morning.

Evacuations: None.  

Closures: Sarah’s Creek Campground, Sarah’s Creek Road (Forest Service Road 156), Tuckaluge Road (Forest Service Road 153), Bartram Trail from Warwoman Dell to Hale Ridge Road (Forest Service Road 7).

Superior Ranger District:  Firefighters will burn up to 10 acres of understory burning on the Second Chance units located 4.5 miles north of Lozeau and 8 miles east of Superior.  Smoke may be visible from Interstate 90 and to the Second Creek/ Lozeau area residents.