Wildfire updates from around Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) The National Weather Service has declared a code red air quality day for Tuesday, the worst we’ve seen in 2016.

The cause is smoke from wildfires.

But there is more than one dumping the smoke into the Tennessee Valley.

Here is an update on several of the fires burning around us.

______________________________

Flipper Bend (Signal Mountain, N. Chickamauga Gorge)

* 1/3 of Flipper Bend Wildfire is contained within the fire breaks
* 10 additional Wildland Firefighters from US Forestry in Nevada are on the scene to assist TN Forestry personnel til dusk.
* NO STRUCTURE ENDANGERMENT
* Residents will continue to experience heavy smoke especially on Signal Mountain.
* Forestry personnel will continue to monitor the wildfire throughout the night.

______________________________

Smith Mountain (Cumberland County)

* large fire between Dunlap & Fall Creek Falls.
* pouring smoke into Sequatchie Valley.
* state helicopters dumping water onto fire.

_______________________________

Cherokee National Forest

* 18 fires now, all contained, burning 830 acres.
* 125 firefighters assigned.
* Smoke from wild fires in east Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia is being experienced throughout the area.
* entire National Forest closed to public

Rattlesnake Hollow fire

_______________________________

Lookout Mountain (Dade County)

* Georgia Forestry reports fire is contained.
* 150 firefighters are deployed in northwest Georgia
* 17 new fires in region Sunday
_______________________________

Rocky Face Mountain (Whitfield County)

* Rocky Face Mountain fire is still holding within the containment lines.
* Crews continue to monitor the fire for interior burning as well as smoke issues.

Video from the Rocky Face Mt #wildfire – please be vigilant! No rain in sight, and fires like this can emerge from the slightest spark! pic.twitter.com/lxLYbciwXc

— GAForestryCommission (@GaTrees) November 7, 2016

________________________________

Rough Ridge Fire (Cohutta Wilderness)

* Fire crossed Rough Creek burning up to East Cowpen Trail
* On northern permimeter, backing down to Jacks River drainage
* Fire managers conducting daily Infrared flights to monitor fire perimeter
* Entire Cohutta Wilderness closed to public