10-acre Wildfire near Rainbow Falls in the Smoky Mountains

Friday, May 9, 2014

Great Smoky Mountains National Park firefighters are managing a low-intensity, 10-acre wildfire, located just above Rainbow Falls along the Rainbow Falls Trail.

The Rocky Spur fire was reported at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8th by a small aircraft. Firefighters were on scene this morning and will remain in the area to monitor the spread of the fire which lies within a natural fire zone. No resources, including structures at Mt. LeConte, are threatened by the fire.

The fire is slowly spreading, with flame lengths less than 3 feet high, through a pine-oak forest including a fire-dependent Table Mountain Pine stand. Firefighters anticipate that the fire will stay confined to the Rocky Spur area due to non-receptive fire fuels across the ridge along with predicted rain. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Rainbow Falls Trail has been closed to all use. For more information regarding the park's wildland fire management program, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

No comments