However, rain over the weekend and forecast for the coming week is expected to moderate future fire behavior, and responders are not concerned about the fire escaping the containment area. No structures have been lost or damaged. 

The fire, which started the day before Thanksgiving, is burning adjacent to Interstate 40 in the Harmon Den area on the Appalachian Ranger District in Haywood County. Firefighters responded quickly on November 23, protecting resources along I-40 and assessing threats to structures and private property. After spreading rapidly to the top of Hurricane Ridge, the fire began to back down into the Hurricane Creek drainage where rugged terrain and limited access led fire managers to pull back to the existing road network to ensure the safety of responding firefighters. As the fire continued to spread east, firefighters worked to secure lines on the south end of the fire, eliminating any direct impacts to private property. 

Much of the 796-acre fire area burned with low intensity, removing leaf litter and fuels and minimizing loss of overstory trees. The strategy of falling back to existing roads as containment lines meant limited disturbance from fireline construction within the watershed. A burned area assessment showed minimal impacts to vegetation and water resources from the Hurricane Ridge Fire.  

Haynes Road has reopened, but Brady Road remains closed. Visitors should be cautions when using the area, as fire-weakened trees may be more likely to fall across roads. 

The response effort is supported by Haywood County Emergency Management and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, with 90 firefighters on scene at the height of the response — with many of those working through the Thanksgiving holiday. 

The cause of the Hurricane Ridge Fire remains under investigation.