Full Notification

Firefighters Respond to North Fork Fire

in McDowell County, NC

NEBO, N.C. (Jan. 30, 2025) – Firefighters worked through the night responding to the North Fork Fire in McDowell County, North Carolina. The fire is currently estimated at 60 acres, 0% contained. The North Fork Fire was reported at 4:00pm Wednesday afternoon and is burning in rugged terrain above the North Fork of the Catawba River in the Graveyard Mountain area of the U.S. Forest Service Grandfather Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest, east of Hwy 221 in the Woodlawn community. 

Yesterday, high winds caused the fire to grow through the afternoon. When firefighters arrived on scene they began installing a fire line on the northern end of the fire to slow the spread towards private property along Good Road and American Thread Village. North Carolina Forest Service, North Carolina Emergency Management, and local fire departments from Woodlawn, Glen Alpine, Enola, Long Town, Chesterfield, Columbus, Sunnyview, and Parkway assisted with structure protection through the night. As of this morning, there is no imminent threat to structures and no evacuation orders are in place.

Today, firefighters are working to secure firelines, mostly falling back to existing road systems within the Graveyard Mountain area. The fire area received extensive tree damage from Hurricane Helene. Hurricane response efforts by U.S. Forest Service crews cleared tree fall from the roads, however, large areas of downed trees within the fire area and near the firelines are leading to increased fire behavior. Fire managers will work to implement burn-out operations today to secure the fire lines, removing the fuels between the active fire and the road system. 

The Mountains to Sea Trail between Hwy 221 and Dobson Knob (FSR 106), Bald Mountain Road (FSR 150) and Graveyard Mountain Road (FSR 149) are closed for the safety of the public and firefighters. Recreationists are asked to avoid the area. 

Smoke impacts are likely this afternoon and overnight in the Marion and Lake James area. The public is urged to use caution when driving through smoke, especially in the evening and morning commutes when smoke settles along the roadways.

Photo: Firefighters monitor the North Fork fire through the night.

Credit: Lisa Jennings, Public Information Officer, U.S. Forest Service