Nov. 19--A wildfire that began late Nov. 11 is still out of control.
"The fire is not laid down," Don Simon, public information officer with the United States Forest Service, said. "We don't have this kind of containment down there."
The wildfire, called the Table Rock Wildfire, now covers 2,275 acres and has 40 percent containment.
The Table Rock Wildfire began with 14 acres of coverage Tuesday. By Wednesday, the fire grew to 100 acres. On Thursday, the fire grew to 1,800 acres.
Over the weekend, the Table Rock Wildfire had grown to 2,700 acres. Light rain and wind help the fire dwindle down to 2,275 acres by Monday.
"The rain was three-tenths of an inch," Simon said. "Not enough to put it out."
The North Carolina Type 3 Team assessed complexity of the fire over the weekend. Concerns regarding the steep terrain, lack of access, an increase in firefighters, multiple jurisdictions with the state becoming more involved, and predicted weather patterns for this week changed the complexity of the fire to a Type 2 incident.
This complexity results in a change in command structure on the fire. The Southern Area Type 2 Team was ordered Monday and will transition with the Type 3 Team on Tuesday and take command of the fire on Wednesday. This new team will bring with them additional resources to help in suppression efforts.
A controlled burn was started in the Spence Ridge Trail area over the weekend.
"You don't send firefighters through this," Simon said pointing to trees and rhododendron.
Simon said the team uses foot trails and gravel roads to aid in lines of containment. This allows firefighters a way out if the fire were to turn toward them.
Teams were seen performing "mopping-up" efforts where any embers were put out by small hoses.
There are 193 fire personnel assisting with suppression efforts in the Linville Gorge.
A 20-person hand crew from the Oklahoma Bureau of Indian Affairs joined the fire fighting forces Monday.
One structure is located within the containment lines and may be threatened if the fire were to make a run to the south.
Crews remain staged to the north at the Outward Bound camp to provide structure protection. Structure protection measures have been applied by fire crews assisted by the property owner. Only one minor vehicle accident which occurred within the first couple of days was reported.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Fire investigators would appreciate talking with the group who were camping at Table Rock Picnic Area last Monday, Veteran's Day.
Investigators believe this group has information that would aid in the investigation. A reward may be offered for substantial information regarding this investigation and persons should contact Law Enforcement Officer Jason Crisp at 828-442-2470 or the Grandfather Ranger District at 828-652-2144.
For now, officials are unsure when the fire will be extinguished.
"I can't predict if it will get worse," Simon said. "I just know we aren't calling it contained and we aren't calling it out."
Copyright 2013 - The News Herald, Morganton, N.C.
