COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. — A large wildfire burning along I-40 in North Carolina continued to hold steady through the week with minimal activity as crews worked to fully contain it south of Cocke County, Tennessee.
The Black Bear Fire was sparked by a car crash on I-40, according to the Cocke County Emergency Management Agency.
If you drove through the Pigeon River Gorge section of I-40 between Cocke County and Asheville earlier this week or last week, you couldn't miss the fire. It had been visibly burning on the mountain along the interstate.
The wildfire has been burning in Haywood County, North Carolina in the Harmon Den Wildlife Management Area near Mile Marker 3 on I-40, which is 3 miles from Cocke County and the Tennessee state line.
The U.S. Forest Service's North Carolina division, National Forests in North Carolina, said the fire had grown to around 1,888 acres as of Wednesday, slowly burning in steep terrain that made it tough to contain initially.
As of Friday, the fire remained 79% contained. More than 100 people worked through the holiday to keep people safe.
Foresters said there hasn't been a lot of fire activity over the past few days. Leaf litter, which is the primary fuel source for the fire, was wet from the recent rain and prevented the fire from spreading much.
Without active spread, the fire has been smoldering away. Smoke is still visible in spots where logs and stumps continue to burn as crews monitor the fire and patrol for hot spots.
Crews were able to reduce road and trail closures in the Pisgah National Forest on Nov. 24 to just the area of Brown Gap Road because of the limited fire activity.
"Forest visitors are reminded to drive with caution when in the area near the fire due to firefighter personnel and traffic in the area," foresters said.
On Thanksgiving, fire crews were able to enjoy a much-needed break and some sweet pies.
"On this day of Thanksgiving, we are extra thankful for the 100+ firefighters and supporting personnel who continue to work tirelessly through the holiday on the Black Bear Fire! "the U.S. Forest Service said. "We know it can be difficult to be away from loved ones during the holidays, we hope you know how grateful we, on the Pisgah National Forest, and our communities are for your hard work and dedication."
Foresters said the burn ban in Western North Carolina was lifted Wednesday night, but encouraged people to continue practicing campfire and burn safety because of the ongoing drought.
In its final update Tuesday, the Southern Area Incident Management Team Blue Team said 195 people were actively assigned to contain the fire. National Forests of North Carolina will assume command of the fire response starting Wednesday.
Drivers heading down I-40 this week had reason to be concerned seeing the mountains burning right next to them. Brook Richardson shared the video below taken on Monday night:
Last week, fire crews were using air tankers and helicopters to contain the fire, along with a 20-person crew and dozers to dig a containment line and clear brush.
"Aircraft are conducting retardant and water drops to slow the fire progression. Fire activity is very active, moving up a ridge through dry fuels," a release said.
NCDOT said drivers should continue to expect delays when driving on I-40 West between Asheville and Tennessee due to smoke from the fire lowering visibility. It said people driving along this stretch of I-40 should consider taking the long way around on I-26 West through Johnson City because of fire and road construction delays.
"The fire may continue for several days. Drivers should use I-26 and I-81 between Asheville and Tennessee to avoid the area affected by the work zone and the fire," NCDOT said.
The fire marked one of several that burned in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina and beyond over the past few days. The entire region has a high fire danger due to extremely dry conditions and breezy winds that can turn underbrush, like leaves or pines, into fuel for wildfires. Burn restrictions are in place in every East Tennessee county.
"Carelessness is probably the biggest cause of outdoor fires right now, and not adhering to the warnings that officials put out there," said Jeff Bagwell, a spokesperson for Rural Metro in Knox County.