Burn ban now for good reason as wildfire season grows

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – From the Smokies to Birmingham and several communities in between, we’ve seen a rash of wildfires and brush fires since the weekend.

They all have one thing in common.  High winds that have dried out the undergrowth and whipped the flames.

Here is a list of some of the fires in our area and region.

COLLEGDALE BRUSH FIRE

The Tri-Community Fire Department battled a brush fire on McDonald Fire on Monday afternoon.  They say a fire at a burn pile quickly got out of hand and spread. Firefighters limited the fire to less than an acre.

Collegedale/Tri-Community Fire

WALKER/DADE WILDFIRE

Report of a brush fire on the back of Lookout Mountain Monday afternoon around Flarity Road and Wolf’s Way.  Both Dade and Walker County firefighters responding.

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN BRUSH FIRE

On Sunday, a brush fire burned a stretch along Signal Mountain Boulevard near the Space House.

photo credit Eng Clark & Eng Meeks

CHIMNEY ROCK WILDFIRE

Firefighters made progress today containing a wildfire in the Cherokee National Forest near the North Carolina line. It has burned around 180 acres and forest officials estimate it is now about 50% contained. Several backcountry roads and trails near Chimeny Rock have been closed.

DOUBLE OAK MOUNTAIN, AL FIRE

Fire crews in Alabama continue to deal with smoke and smoldering embers from a wildfire that burned about 580 acres southeast of Birmingham over the weekend. Alabama Forestry says it is about 80% contained by Monday afternoon. It began near a residential area on Saturday afternoon and forced evacuations. About a dozen homes were threatened, but no one was hurt.

Photo by Katie Wiswall, AFC