Fire Weather Watch issued for East Tennessee
The National Weather Service issued a Fire Weather Watch for the East Tennessee mountains and southwest North Carolina.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The National Weather Service issued a Fire Weather Watch for multiple East Tennessee counties.
“Fire Weather Watch in effect from Monday morning through Tuesday morning for gusty winds and low humidity for the East Tennessee mountains and extreme southwest North Carolina,” officials with the National Weather Service said.
The alert was issued for several East Tennessee counties including Blount, Monroe, Cocke and Sevier.
Fire crews are currently fighting a wildfire in the National Park called the Rich Mountain Fire. The fire is currently five to seven acres in size and no structures or properties are being threatened.
Crews have successfully created a blowline around the fire. Firefighters are still on the scene as helicopters drop water on the fire, according to officials with the National Park Service. Officials said that firefighters will stay on the scene overnight to monitor the wildfire.
Officials report that in North Carolina around 11 a.m. on Monday, a construction crew working on Lakeview Drive witnessed a woman set two fires to grass and brush on the shoulder of the road. The fires were both quickly extinguished before they could grow. The woman has since been arrested and federal and state charges are pending. The name of the woman has not yet been released.
Here is an update on other wildfires happening across East Tennessee and the surrounding area:
ANDERSON COUNTY
In Anderson County, there is a fire on Windrock Road that has reached 328 acres. That fire is now 95 percent contained.
CLAIBORNE COUNTY
In Claiborne County, there is a fire on Earl Maples Lane that is five acres in size. This fire is now completely contained.
COCKE COUNTY
There are two fires in Cocke County. The Tweed Fire is 538 acres and is 85 percent contained. This fire is believed to be human-caused according to officials. The Black Bear Fire in Haywood, North Carolina is now 1,886 acres in size and is currently 42 percent contained.
MONROE COUNTY
The Bullet Fire in Monroe County is now 103 acres in size and is 40 percent contained.
NORTH CAROLINA
The Collette Ridge Fire near Andrews, North Carolina is 5,505 acres in size and officials now have it 82 percent contained. This fire was caused by lightning, according to officials.
SCOTT COUNTY
In Scott County, the fire a 6561 Smokey Creek Road is 2.677 acres and is 90 percent contained.
SEVIER COUNTY
In Sevier County, the fire near 930 Autumn Ridge Way is 3.02 acres and officials have completely contained it.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Drought in East Tennessee is Knoxville’s worst on record so far, National Weather Service says
The WVLT First Alert Weather Team issued a First Alert Day for the morning commute Tuesday as rain could lead to lower visibility as well as ponding on the roadways.
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