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A firefighter works off Newfound Gap Road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Most people who have been involved in fighting the wildfire called Thomas Divide Complex in the eastern part of Swain County and mostly in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be demobilized today, (Friday, April 1), according to a press release from the National Park Service. Approximately 20 people will remain in place to begin fire suppression repair.
Despite high winds, the area received about half an inch of rain overnight. The Park Service commended the excellent work by firefighters from multiple agencies in holding the containment lines.
No structures have been lost in the fire that did cause some Swain County residents to evacuate on Saturday as a precaution.
Wet fuels and little observed fire activity led to the Stone Pile Fire being unstaffed March 31. On the Cooper Creek Fire, firefighters continued to mop up and cold trail around residences and structures, as well as collect GPS data to improve mapping.
Several personnel also provided support to the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire in Wears Valley again Thursday and Friday. The Wears Valley fire in Sevier County started Wednesday and high winds led to a slow containment. As of Thursday morning, it was 45% contained. As of Thursday evening, the Hatcher Mountain Fire was across 3,739 acres and affected more than 100 structures. Another fire began at Millstone Gap in Seymour and grew to about 650 acres, according to the National Park Service.
The high winds the area has been experiencing since the weekend, when power lines started the two fires that spread, are no longer in the forecast. A high-pressure system is moving into western North Carolina today, bringing calmer skies and cooler temperatures.
The National Park Service reopened Newfound Gap Road earlier today.
The following areas remain closed within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park related to the Thomas Divide Complex Fire:
- Toms Branch Road near Deep Creek
- Backcountry campsites 46 and 51- 60
- Deep Creek and Thomas Divide Trails from Deep Creek to Newfound Gap Road
- Pole Road Creek, Indian Creek, Stone Pile Gap, Deep Creek Horse Bypass, Juney Whank Falls, Deeplow, Fork Ridge, Sunkota Ridge, Martins Gap, Indian Creek Motor Nature, Mingus Creek, Newton Bald, Kanati Fork and Loop Trails
- Deep Creek Campground and Picnic Area are not scheduled to open for the season until April 15.