Crews in Western North Carolina continue to work on a wildfire that began Wednesday in Haywood County. Here are the latest updates.Previously, this story covered the wildfires in Jackson and Buncombe counties. Both of these fires have since been contained. Monday morning update: The Rattlesnake Branch Fire is on private land and the Shining Rock Wilderness Area on Pisgah National Forest around the community of Cruso, approximately 11 miles southeast of Waynesville, North Carolina. It started on March 26, 2025, and quickly spread due to dry conditions and hardwood leaves and branches on the ground. The cause is under investigation. The fire is approximately 1,865 acres and 21-percent contained. The decrease in acreage is due to better mapping. More than 100 personnel are on the fire.Yesterday’s ActivitiesFirefighters had another day of minimal fire activity to continue protecting homes and containing the fire. Some fire areas received a few hundredths of an inch of rain, which was less than predicted. Crews mopped up along US-276, Crawford Creek and Cold Creek and continued structure protection and work under powerlines in these areas. They continued to build and improve fire containment lines north of the fire footprint on the east side of the fire, including putting in fire lines around homes. The Southern Area Red Team met with local firefighters at Lake Logan-Cecil Fire Department to gain situational awareness, and they scouted out areas north and west of the fire to identify structures to be included in protection planning. A drone flew to identify hot spots with infrared technology and map the fire’s perimeter, but the weather limited its use.Today’s ActivitiesToday, crews will continue to construct, hold and improve fire lines and mop up as necessary, including efforts to secure the fire’s edge around powerlines and private property in Cruso, along US-276, Crawford Creek and Rattlesnake Branch Road. Firefighters will work on fire lines from Cold Creek Road to Burnette Cove Road and identify structures to be protected. Fire personnel will scout areas around Dix Creek, Chambers Cove and Schoolhouse Branch roads to identify structures needing protection and places to put in fire containment lines to prevent the fire from spreading from the Shining Rock Wilderness Area onto private lands. In the wilderness, firefighters will use only chainsaws, leaf blowers and bucket water drops from helicopters and will coordinate with a resource advisor to protect wilderness values during fire suppression. This includes determining appropriate areas from which to draft water.A drone is assigned to the fire to help with aerial ignition, mapping and reconnaissance. Other aircraft available include two large helicopters, two small helicopters, two air attack platforms and two and fixed-wing “super scoopers”.Weather/Fire Behavior: Showers and thunderstorms are likely in the morning after 10 am, with rain amounts up to 0.30 inches. Winds associated with storms may be erratic, strong and potentially damaging. Fire personnel will remain vigilant for stormy weather and will take shelter if necessary. The high temperature is predicted to be in the low 60s and relative humidity 60-65 percent early on, decreasing to around 40 percent later in the day with passage of a frontal system. Winds will be southwest, shifting to west then northwest after 3 p.m., 8-12 mph, gusting to 26 mph.Fire potential will be moderated again today due to increased moisture. The fire may smolder and creep before and between rain events and areas not receiving rain may become active. Although rain is expected today, it is predicted to be minimal. Air quality information is available at Smoke Outlook for Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina, www.airnow.gov and www.wildlandfiresmoke.net. Closures and Restrictions: The Pisgah National Forest has issued an area closure of the Shining Rock Wilderness Area to protect the public from wildfire and firefighting operations. This closure includes all National Forest System land between US-276 and NC-215 north of the Blue Ridge Parkway (between mile markers 405 and 420). Please stay safe and keep out of these areas.Following the statewide burn ban issued for North Carolina, the USDA Forest Service issued a fire restriction on open burning National Forest land, including building, maintaining or using campfires, open stove fires and fire rings, to mitigate wildfire risks. A temporary flight restriction is in effect in and around the fire area. This includes use of personal drones. If you fly, we cannot fly!Sunday morning update:The Rattlesnake Branch Fire is on private land and the Shining Rock Wilderness Area on Pisgah National Forest around the community of Cruso, approximately 11 miles southeast of Waynesville, North Carolina. It started on March 26, 2025, and quickly spread due to dry conditions and hardwood leaves and branches on the ground. The cause is under investigation.The fire is approximately 1,882 acres and 21% contained. Nearly 140 personnel are on the fire, with more firefighters and equipment on the way.The fire is currently growing at a slow, steady pace as it moves northwest, mostly through the Shining Rock Wilderness Area.Saturday’s ActivitiesThe Southern Area Red Complex Incident Management Team joined in command of the fire. Firefighters took advantage of yesterday’s minimal fire behavior to continue work to protect homes and contain the fire.Around Cruso, crews mopped up areas where they had strategically burned to reduce threats to homes. They constructed a fire containment line from Bass Pond in the Cold Creek drainage to the Shining Rock Wilderness boundary and scouted out areas, including along Burnette Cove Road and talking to landowners to put in more fire lines. They used a helicopter to ignite ridgetops, backing the fire downslope to prevent fire low in the drainage from running upslope in an uncontrolled manner and spotting over the ridgetops.Over 100 homes and structures in Cruso have been protected by controlled burns that were completed over the last few days.In Crawford Creek, firefighters mopped around areas that they burned on Friday to keep the fire above homes in the area and used tactical burning to improve fire lines. They complete protecting structures along the bottom of the drainage and also protected powerlines.Sunday’s ActivitiesToday, crews will continue to hold and improve existing fire containment lines located south of Cold Creek Road and west of Route 276. They will protect homes and mop up in Cruso and identify areas for putting in more fire lines in the Burnett Creek drainage from Cold Creek to Burnette Cove Road. This will include contacting private landowners to identify opportunities. They also will identify structures to protect in this area, north of the current footprint of the fire.Firefighters will work along the flank of the fire as it backs down from ridgetops, occasionally doing some tactical burning to even up fire lines so the backing fire does not pose a risk for rapid spread. Firefighters will continue fire protection of cabins in Crawford Creek and will continue to keep the fire from burning homes as it moves up the drainage.A drone is assigned to the fire to help with aerial ignition, mapping and reconnaissance and will fly around the Cruso area today. Other aircraft available include two large helicopters, two small helicopters, two air attack platforms and two and fixed-wing “super scoopers”.Weather/Fire Behavior: Today’s weather will bring showers with up to a tenth inch of rain and erratic winds in the morning and a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Firefighters will remain vigilant for thunderstorms and be ready to take shelter, if needed.The high temperature is predicted to be 65 degrees, relative humidity near 60 percent, and southwest wind 7-12 mph, gusting 25 mph.Fire potential will be moderated due to increased moisture. The fire may smolder and creep before and between rain events. Flareups are possible in thick, rain-sheltered shrub materials with high winds. Although rain is expected today and tomorrow, it is expected to be minimal; dry conditions are expected to return. Air quality information is available at Smoke Outlook for Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina, www.airnow.gov and www.wildlandfiresmoke.net.Closures and Restrictions: The Pisgah National Forest has issued an area closure of the Shining Rock Wilderness Area to protect the public from wildfire and firefighting operations. This closure includes all National Forest System land between US-276 and NC-215 north of the Blue Ridge Parkway (between mile markers 405 and 420). Please stay safe and keep out of these areas.A temporary flight restriction is in effect in and around the fire area. This includes use of personal drones. If you fly, we cannot fly!Saturday afternoon update:Haywood CountyRattlesnake Branch FireThe Rattlesnake Branch Fire is on private land and the Shining Rock Wilderness Area on Pisgah National Forest around the community of Cruso, approximately 11 miles southeast of Waynesville, North Carolina. It started on March 26, 2025, and quickly spread due to dry conditions and hardwood leaves and branches on the ground. The cause is under investigation. The fire is approximately 1,200 acres and 20-percent contained. More than 80 personnel are on the fire, with more firefighters and equipment on the way.Yesterday’s ActivitiesFirefighters made good progress protecting homes in Cruso yesterday. They put in a fire containment line between the area where the fire started and Cold Creek, allowing them to burn around homes, igniting from the ground and from a helicopter to reduce burnable vegetation and secure homes. In the Crawford Creek area, the fire continued to flank uphill. Firefighters used tactical burning to keep the fire above homes in this area. They also provided structure protection as a precautionary measure to reduce their fire risk. The fire continued to burn throughout the night under the watch of night crews.The Southern Area Red Complex Incident Management Team arrived to help the Pisgah National Forest manage the fire.Today’s ActivitiesThis morning, the Southern Area Red Team joined command of the Rattlesnake Branch Fire. Crews will continue to protect homes in Cruso and identify areas for putting in more bulldozer fire lines from Cold Creek to Burnett Cove to protect private property. They will do strategic firing operations from helicopter, backing the fire down to reduce the risk of it running uncontrolled upslope and potentially spotting into drainages to the west.Firefighters will continue to keep the fire from burning downhill towards homes in the Crawford Creek area and will expand assessment of structures needing protection, working westward. They will put in a fire containment line and begin to improve road access for firefighting efforts.Helicopters and fixed-wing “super scoopers” are available to help fight the fire.Weather/Fire Behavior: Today will be mostly cloudy, moderating fire behavior. Temperature highs will be in the mid-60s with relative humidity in the mid-40s percent. Winds will be south/southwest 8-14 mph, gusting 20-28 mph.Dead and down hardwood tree litter, rhododendron and laurel shrubs and conifer species such as white pine are the primary fuels burning in the Rattlesnake Branch Fire. With fire activity expected to be minimal today due to the weather, fire behavior analyst Gary Jarvis said to firefighters, “Today should be a good day to get out there and size things up - fire will be on your side today, not the extreme stuff we’ve seen in the past few days.”Air quality information is available at Smoke Outlook for Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina, www.airnow.gov and www.wildlandfiresmoke.net. Closures and Restrictions: The Pisgah National Forest has issued an area closure of the Shining Rock Wilderness Area to protect the public from wildfire and firefighting operations. This closure includes all National Forest System land between US-276 and NC-215 north of the Blue Ridge Parkway (between mile markers 405 and 420). Please stay safe and keep out of these areas.Friday evening updates:Haywood CountyRattlesnake Branch FireA variety of firefighting actions occurred today to protect homes in the community of Cruso from the Rattlesnake Branch Fire. One hundred and forty firefighters and support personnel from the U.S. Forest Service, North Carolina Forest Service and Haywood County worked together to conduct defensive burning around the Crawford Creek Road, Rattlesnake Branch Road and Cold Creek Road down to US 276. They also continued to provide structure protection around homes by creating defensive fire lines with hand tools and dozers. The last mapped fire acreage early this afternoon was 506 acres from Rattlesnake Branch Fire and 289 acres from firing operations, totaling 795 acres. This afternoon a helicopter performed firing operations to assist firefighters in removing fuel in strategic locations to safeguard homes and structures. Smoke remains in the area.Please use caution when driving on US 276 because crews are driving heavy equipment and patrolling for hot spots along the highway. Four engines were assigned to the incident today and two more are being ordered. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle that can map fire locations and help perform burnout operations has been ordered, as well as a 20-person hand crew Firefighters will continue to work monitoring and patrolling fire lines throughout the night. The Southern Area Red Incident Management Team will assume control of the fire at 6 a.m. Saturday. Friday afternoon updates:Buncombe CountyFreedom Farm FireThe North Carolina Forest Service is reporting that the 130 acre fire is 100% contained.Haywood CountyRattlesnake Branch FireThe Friday morning update says the Rattlesnake Branch Fire is an estimated 795 acres with 5% containment.According to the Haywood County Emergency Services, fire crews are using a helicopter around 3 p.m. Friday to assist with controlled burning in Cruso. Expect to see increased smoke and possibly flames in the area of the Cruso Community Center. This is a controlled, intentional burn that will help protect homes and properties in Cruso. You do not need to call 911 unless you feel that you are in danger.Jackson CountyKitchen Branch FireJackson County Emergency Management Division gave the final update for the fire on Thursday night. As of 11 a.m. Friday, the fire in Sylva is at 94 acres with 90% containment.Friday updates:Buncombe CountyFreedom Farm FireNC Forest Service is still reporting 60% containment with no additional acreage growth overnight. Their hope is to strengthen fire lines throughout the day and greatly increase their containment percentage by the end of today.Haywood CountyRattlesnake Branch Fire10:30 a.m. Friday from U.S. Forest Service: Location: Less than one mile southwest of Cruso, North Carolina Start date: March 26, 2025 Estimated size: 629 acres Containment: 5 percent Personnel: 80 Firefighters from the USDA Forest Service, the North Carolina Forest Service and nearby counties continue to make progress to contain the Rattlesnake Branch Fire. Initially igniting on private land in Haywood County, the fire has continued to spread into both state- and federally managed public lands, including the Shining Rock Designated Wilderness Area on the Pisgah National Forest. These areas include hardwood forests impacted by Hurricane Helene. Firefighters have constructed dozer lines and handlines near State Highway 276 to protect structures and conducted burnout operations to remove fuel near homes. Weather: Conditions this spring have increased fire danger in North Carolina. Above- average temperatures are expected today with a southwesterly breeze gusting to 25 mph. Saturday should remain dry with warm daytime highs reaching the upper 70s to lower 80s. Increased fire activity will increase smoke production and degrade air quality in the area. Asheville and surrounding areas will likely see air that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Closures and Restrictions: Shining Rock Wilderness Area is closed due to the spread of the Rattlesnake Branch Fire. This closure includes all National Forest System land between US-276 and NC-215 north of the Blue Ridge Parkway (between mile markers 405 and 420). Visitor and employee safety are the highest priorities for the Forest Service, so the public should stay out of this area while federal, state and local fire crews work to contain the blaze. Following the statewide burn ban issued for North Carolina, the Forest Service issued a restriction on open burning National Forest land, including building, maintaining or using campfires, open stove fires and fire rings, to mitigate wildfire risks. 9 a.m. Friday from U.S. Forest Service: Firefighters from the USDA Forest Service, the North Carolina Forest Service and nearby counties continue to make progress to contain the Rattlesnake Branch Fire.Initially igniting on private land in Haywood County, the fire has continued to spread into both state- and federally managed public lands, including the Shining Rock Designated Wilderness Area on the Pisgah National Forest. These areas include hardwood forests impacted by Hurricane Helene.Firefighters have constructed dozer lines and handlines near State Highway 276 to protect structures and conducted burnout operations to remove fuel near homes.Weather: Conditions this spring have increased fire danger in North Carolina. Above- average temperatures are expected today with a southwesterly breeze gusting to 25 mph. Saturday should remain dry with warm daytime highs reaching the upper 70s to lower 80s. Increased fire activity will increase smoke production and degrade air quality in the area. Asheville and surrounding areas will likely see air that is unhealthy for sensitive groups.Closures and Restrictions: Shining Rock Wilderness Area is closed due to the spread of the Rattlesnake Branch Fire. This closure includes all National Forest System land between US-276 and NC-215 north of the Blue Ridge Parkway (between mile markers 405 and 420). Visitor and employee safety are the highest priorities for the Forest Service, so the public should stay out of this area while federal, state and local fire crews work to contain the blaze.Following the statewide burn ban issued for North Carolina, the Forest Service issued a restriction on open burning National Forest land, including building, maintaining or using campfires, open stove fires and fire rings, to mitigate wildfire risks.Thursday updates: Buncombe CountyFreedom Farm FireThe Freedom Farm Fire is at 130 acres with 60% containment. NC Forest Service has released all local fire departments but they remain on scene controlling the fire. Currently no structures are endangered.Haywood County8 p.m. Thursday update from the U.S. Forest Service:An infrared flight this afternoon measured the fire at 629 acres. It is approximately ¼ of a mile from the fire station in Cruso and is 5 percent contained.It is burning in hardwood leaf litter and moving west from US 276 toward the Shining Rock Wilderness Area. Firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor areas throughout the night. The Cruso area and US 276 remain open. The Shining Rock Wilderness Area is closed for all uses, including the following trailheads:Little East ForkShining CreekBig East ForkMountains to Sea Trail Crossing at 215Art Loeb Trail at Camp Daniel BooneArt Loeb trail crossing at the Blue Ridge Parkway5:45 p.m. Thursday from U.S. Forest Service:Fire size is estimated at 500 acres.More than 80 firefighters from state and local fire departments and the US Forest Service are building fireline between homes and the active fire edge along Crawford Creek Road and Highway 276 near Rattlesnake Branch Rd. Firelines create an area of bare soil and act as a buffer to slow down or stop fire progress. Firefighters are engaging tools such as small bulldozers and leafblowers to remove fuel. State Highway 276 remains open but please drive carefully- firefighters and equipment are working in the area. The fire started on private land and is under investigation.Buncombe CountyFreedom Farm Fire near Dix Creek5:30 p.m. Thursday from Leicester Fire Department:The fire is 127 acres in size with 20% containment.As of 5:30 p.m. Thursday, the voluntary evacuation order for Hayes Cove area was lifted.Jackson CountySylva Fire5:50 p.m. Thursday from North Carolina Forest Service:The fire is 94 acres in size and at 60% containment. There is a line around the fire. One structure is threatened but protected. Multiple firefighters, engines, and other resources are improving fire lines. Firefighters will conduct a burnout today. Expect to see smoke. No evacuation orders are in place at this time. Please continue to monitor changing conditions. Haywood CountyRattlesnake Branch Fire12:45 p.m. Thursday from U.S. Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has closed the Shining Rock Designated Wilderness Area on the Pisgah National Forest in response to the ongoing Rattlesnake Branch Fire. All visitors in the area were evacuated yesterday evening. This closure includes all National Forest land between US-276 and NC-215 north of the Blue Ridge Parkway (between mile markers 405 and 420). Currently reaching approximately between 400 and 500 acres with 0-percent containment as of 9 a.m. on March 27, the Rattlesnake Branch Fire in Haywood County spread into the Shining Rock Wildness yesterday afternoon, prompting the Forest Service to issue the closure order. The safety of both visitors and employees are the highest priorities for the Forest Service, so the public should stay out of this area while federal, state and local fire crews work to contain the blaze.Fire Risk Remains High High winds and dry conditions have heightened fire risks throughout much of North Carolina. Since Jan. 1, 2025, Forest Service fire crews have responded to nearly 90 confirmed fires on the four National Forests in North Carolina. In the Southern Area Spring 2025 Wildfire Risk Assessment, produced by the Southern Area Coordination Center, forecasts show a moderate probability for an active spring wildfire season throughout the Southern Appalachian states because of warmer temperatures and low precipitation. The report noted that impacts from Hurricane Helene, including limited access to areas still blocked by debris, will likely lead to larger, more complex wildfires.Following the statewide burn ban issued for North Carolina, the Forest Service issued a restriction on open burning National Forest land, including building, maintaining or using campfires, open stove fires and fire rings, in an effort to mitigate wildfire risks. 11 a.m. Thursday update: Due to critical fire conditions and the ongoing Rattlesnake Branch Fire in the Cruso community, Haywood County has declared a State of Emergency effective 8 p.m. on March 26, 2025.10 a.m. Thursday update from North Carolina forestry officials: This morning, as of 9 a.m., the Rattlesnake Branch Fire in Cruso grew to between 400 and 500 acres. The fire is still burning westward into the Shining Rock Wilderness Area. Multiple firefighters, engines and other resources are in the area mitigating fire risk. This morning, a helicopter will perform a reconnaissance flight, and firefighters will conduct burnout operations in specified areas to decrease fire risk around homes and structures. The fire is 0 percent contained. Burnout operations are planned and controlled fires which remove excess fuel to reduce potential fire intensity. These operations may occur near homes. Communities of Cruso and Bethel will see smoke caused by these burnout operations. Winds are forecasted to be under 10 mph today; however, they are expected to increase tomorrow. A burn ban is in effect for the state of North Carolina. We ask the public to stay out of this area at this time. Reducing traffic will help responders working in the area.8 p.m. Wednesday update: The Rattlesnake Branch Fire near the 13000 block of Cruso Road in Haywood County, started Wednesday afternoon on state land and crossed into the Pisgah National Forest.As of 8 p.m. the Rattlesnake Branch Fire remains at 200 acres at 0% containment.The Shining Rock Wilderness area is closed, including all trails, and evacuation of visitors has been initiated. The fire is affecting travel on the Blue Ridge Parkway from mile marker 405 to mile marker 420.The U.S. Forest Service said about 40 firefighters are on scene, with support crews continuing to arrive and four more engines en route. Winds are under 10 mph from the west, with 30 percent humidity.Firefighters will monitor the fire overnight focusing on a few high-risk structures.No evacuations are in effect for Haywood County.Buncombe CountyDix Creek Fire5:30 p.m. Thursday from Leicester Fire Department:The fire is 127 acres in size with 20% containment.As of 5:30 p.m. Thursday, the voluntary evacuation order for Hayes Cove area was lifted.As of noon Thursday, voluntary evacuation orders were issued for residents of the Hayes Cove area.As of 10 p.m. Wednesday, the Leicester Fire Department is on scene of a 60 acre wildfire in the Dix Creek/Leicester area with West Buncombe Fire Department.The North Carolina Forest Service says the fire is 0% contained. If any residents need to be evacuated, officials will be going door to door to notify everyone. If you live in the Hayes Cove Road area off of Newfound Road, authorities ask you to be on standby, gather medication and any other important supplies. Crews are working this area to clear debris from homes. Again, be prepared but authorities will notify you IF you need to evacuate.Jackson CountySylva Fire5:50 p.m. Thursday from North Carolina Forest Service:The fire is 94 acres in size and at 50% containment. On Wednesday afternoon, Jackson County 911 said officials are aware of the brush fire off of Kitchen Branch Road in Sylva.According to the North Carolina Forest Service, the fire is 50 acres in size and 0% contained.No evacuation orders are in place at this time.