Wildfire Closes Appalachian Trail

Smoke continues to cover the Cosby and Hartford areas this morning after a new wildfire broke out near the state line on Thursday. What the forest service is calling the Black Bear fire is located near Interstate 40 at mile marker 3, in Haywood County on the Appalachian Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest. That 150 acre fire has spread into Cocke County. This wildfire, which burning in steep, rugged terrain, has forced the closure of the Appalachian Trail from I-40 to Max Patch. Cold Springs Road and Brown Gap Road are both closed. Smoke is hovering over the interstate through that area as well. The US Forest Service is advising motorists to use caution when driving on I-40 near the state line and into the first few miles of the interstate in North Carolina. The fire at this point has 0% containment.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Black Bear Fire area. If you fly, firefighting efforts can’t. Aircraft or drone intrusions into the restricted airspace endangers aircrews conducting fire operations and aerial resources are grounded for safety. This unnecessarily places aircrews and ground fire crews at risk in a dynamic and dangerous fire environment according to the US Forest Service.

The Forest Service says the fire was caused by an accident early Thursday on I-40 in North Carolina.