Cherokee National Forest fighting fire near Etowah
Starr Mountain Fire (Cherokee National Forest)
ETOWAH, Tenn. (WDEF) — A wildfire is burning in the Cherokee National Forest near Etowah, Tennessee.
Federal wildland firefighters are working to suppress the fire, which is burning southeast of Etowah in steep terrain.
The fire is on Starr Mountain in a remote location.
The Cherokee National Forest says it does not pose an immediate threat to people or structures.
Firefighters started working around 3:40 p.m. on Sunday and continued late that night.
“The steep, remote location of the fire makes it inaccessible by ground crews limiting suppression tactics to firing operations that create a burned perimeter around the fire. The burned perimeter reduces fuel for additional fire spread,” the Cherokee National Forest said in a press release.
The Forestry said crews will increase containment lines on Monday. They will also use helicopters to drop water onto hot spots.
They will report the acreage of the fire once the weather allows.
The U.S. Forest Service said they are continuing to investigate what may have caused the fire.
In their press release, they remind the public that “individuals responsible for wildfires are often held liable for suppression costs that can run $100,000 or more per day.”
