Wildfires continue to burn across Tennessee Valley

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Wildfires continue to smoke the Tennessee Valley as an extreme drought continues.

Firefighters in Rhea County say they had some scary moments Monday morning when a wildfire jumped a fire line.

The Grandview Fire Department says that the Three Mile Fire on Walden’s Ridge, which was 100% contained, jumped a line causing an immediate response by state forestry agents.

On Monday afternoon, Grandview firefighters said the fire, which is roughly 140 acres, has been contained. 

The Three Mile Fire in Rhea County (Courtesy: Grandview Fire Department)

Meanwhile over in Southwestern North Carolina, the U.S. Forestry Service says they are finally gaining an upper hand over the Collett Ridge Fire outside of Andrews.

They say the fire, which has been burning for three weeks now, is now 55% contained as of Monday morning, which is a rapid improvement from last week when it was not contained.

Wes McKinney, who is an Operation Section Chief Trainee with the US Forest Service, said, “We’re working with the local fire department, building structure protection plans for the future. Everything is safe up there right now, everything is looking good, but we’re just building stuff for the future and working with the fire departments and training them, to better protect you in the future.”

The Hiawassee Dam Fire Department posted there have been instances of “crowning,” which is when multiple treetops catch on fire at the same time due to high temperatures.

The fire remains over 5,000 acres in size, but it remains south of Andrews.

Across the state line in Eastern Polk County, the U.S. Forest Service says a 540-acre fire is 60% contained north of Farmer.

Forestry officials say they are investigating potential arson related to that fire.

In Northwest Georgia, Dade County EMA says that all of the fires in their county are contained and are ceasing daily updates at this time.

Most of the News 12 area remains under a burn ban at this time.