Thomas Divide Complex Wildfire 60% Contained

While the wildfire continues in the Cherokee National Forest in Cocke County, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park says the 960-acre Thomas Divide Complex Fire is now 60 percent contained over in North Carolina. 70 firefighters are participating in fighting that fire as part of ground crews, engine crews, and air operations. That wildfire began last week as two separate fires but then converged into one larger wildfire and was blown from private lands into the national park. That fire is about 8 miles from the Tennessee part of the park. With high winds expected across the park over the next two days under dry conditions, park officials remind visitors to exercise extreme caution in the park. Campfires should be fully extinguished and cigarettes properly disposed to prevent the accidental spread of wildfires. For instance, A small, half-acre human-caused fire was detected at around 1:30 yesterday afternoon on Newfound Gap Road south of the Deep Creek Trailhead parking area. The fire was quickly extinguished due to a quick response from the National Park Service.