UPDATED STORY: Great Smoky Mountains National Park firefighters and multiple agencies continue firefighting efforts to extinguish the Thomas Divide Complex Fire east of Bryson City, North Carolina. The complex is comprised of two wildfires including the Stone Pile Fire and the Cooper Creek Fire. Ignition of both fires has been confirmed as down power lines due to high winds and fallen trees. The Complex Fire is 30% contained with approximately 46% of the affected 750 acres being inside park boundaries.
The Unified Command Center continues to coordinate the suppression efforts with approximately 70 personnel from the National Park Service, North Carolina Forest Service, Bryson City Fire Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Swain County Fire Department, and Jackson County Emergency Management. Plans are being developed to transfer oversight to the Southern Area Type II Incident Management Team in the upcoming days. Crews will remain in place overnight to provide structure protection. Air resources will return tomorrow to respond if wind speeds allow.
The following areas remain closed: Backcountry campsites 46, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, and 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. Toms Branch Road near Deep Creek is also closed. The Deep Creek Campground and Picnic Area are not scheduled to open for the season until April 15.
ORIGINAL STORY: Several Trails and campsites remain closed in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park due to the Thomas Divide Complex Fire.
The fire is east of Bryson City, North Carolina and the complex is comprised of two wildfires including the Stone Pile Fire which is about 140 acres and the Cooper Creek Fire which is about 170 acres. The fire is estimated to be 10 percent contained with about half of the fire burning within the park boundary. Trails and campsites between Deep Creek and Newfound Gap Road are closed.
About 50 firefighters are working to establish firebreak lines using hand crews and bulldozers. Air resources are available to respond if wind speeds allow.
The following areas remain closed: Backcountry campsites 46, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, and 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. Toms Branch Road near Deep Creek is also closed. The Deep Creek Campground and Picnic Area are not scheduled to open for the season until April 15.
