Firefighters combat Cold Mountain Fire
A human-caused fire estimated at 132 acres is burning in the Shining Rock Wilderness Area about 20 miles south of Waynesville. It is within the Pisgah Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest in the headwaters of Crawford Creek.
The Cold Mountain Fire was reported the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 17, and had 83 firefighters and support staff, including two helicopters, assigned to the incident as of Monday, Feb. 20. A light rain on Saturday gave firefighters an opportunity to complete containment lines on the east side of the fire as other personnel conducted reconnaissance on the fire’s west flank. The fire was 50 percent contained as of Feb. 20.
Trail closures are in effect for the Art Loeb Trail north of Shining Rock Gap and the Cold Mountain Trail. Minimum-impact suppression tactics are in place to protect wilderness and resource values in the area. Smoke may be visible in surrounding communities for several days.
The fire is being managed under a unified command structure between the N.C. Forest Service and the U.S. Forest Service.
