Burn ban now for good reason as wildfire season grows
High winds make burning dangerous... just check out all the fires around us
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.
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.
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.