Rattlesnake Branch Fire Updates
Friday, April 4, 2025
Note: The Pisgah National Forest has modified an area closure of the Shining Rock Wilderness Area to protect the public. The closure now includes all National Forest System land in the Shining Rock Wilderness Area ONLY. Previously, it included National Forest System land between US-276 and NC-215 north of the Blue Ridge Parkway (between Blue Ridge Parkway mile markers 405 and 420). With the modified order, only the wilderness area remains closed for this order. Please stay safe and keep out of the wilderness area.
This is the last update of the Rattlesnake Branch Fire by the Southern Area Red Complex Incident Management Team. Firefighters have done good work to contain the fire and construct firelines; fire activity has decreased, and more rain is predicted on Sunday. As a result, the Red Team will transition to a Type 3 (smaller) organization tomorrow morning. The Type 3 team will mostly consist of members of the Red Team who will stay while the rest of the team travels home.
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 of the hardwood leaves and branches on the ground. The cause remains under investigation.
The fire is approximately 1,843 acres and 26 percent contained, which is 93 percent of the fire under a containment strategy. 112 personnel are on the fire.
Yesterday’s Activities
Yesterday, many firefighters and equipment were released from the fire because they were in excess of current needs for the Rattlesnake Branch Fire. Management of the fire has shifted to monitoring, patrolling and completing data collection for structure protection and potential places for fireline construction. In the Crawford Creek area, crews cleared roads for emergency access. Most of the assessment work yesterday was northwest and west of the fire, near the Camp Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp and including the Frazier and Little East Fork Road systems. The drone flew up to the peak of Cold Mountain and checked the southern fire perimeter for heat signatures. Some areas of the fire received more rain yesterday.
Today’s Activities
More firefighters and equipment will be released from the fire today. Remaining personnel will continue to patrol and mop up around structures in Crawford Creek and Cruso, as needed, and improve firelines to protect structures in the Burnette, Lenoir and Dix creek drainages and around the Boy Scout Camp. A hotshot crew will also work to assess and clear trails on Cold Mountain. Roads and firelines used for fire suppression around Crawford Creek, Cruso and Burnette Cove Road will be repaired, including installing water bars on roads to prevent erosion. Firefighters will continue to collect data on potential future firelines and structures for a structure protection plan, including data on interior logging logs west of the current fire footprint.
A UAS (drone) is assigned to the fire to help with mapping and reconnaissance. Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are available, if needed.
Weather/Fire Behavior: Today will be mostly cloudy with warmer temperatures and strong southerly winds. A strong, rainy cold front arrives Sunday, with wetting rain (1.5 – 1.75 inches) and thunderstorms. The high temperature today will be 71 -76 degrees with 45-48 percent minimum relative humidity. Winds will be south to southwest, 10-14 mph with gusts to 32 mph.
Minimal fire activity is expected again today due to moisture retained by dead leaves and woody vegetation on the ground. Closures and Restrictions:
The Pisgah National Forest has modified 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 in the Shining Rock Wilderness Area only. Please stay safe and keep out of the wilderness area.
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!
Thursday, April 3, 2025
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 of the hardwood leaves and branches on the ground. The cause remains under investigation.
The fire is approximately 1,843 acres and 26 percent contained, which is 93 percent of the fire under a containment strategy. The reduction in acreage is due to better mapping. 175 personnel are on the fire.
Yesterday’s Activities
Firefighters made good progress yesterday, increasing containment in the Crawford Creek area. They used intelligence gathered from an infrared flight by the drone to find hot spots. Crews mopped them up in Crawford Creek and around homes in Cruso. Structure protection remained a focus of work in the Burnette Cove Road area and structure assessments continued throughout areas around the fire. Firefighters connected firelines in Lenoir Creek west to Dix Creek. They scouted areas to extend fire containment lines further west and south. Isolated rain showers fell overnight, with some areas possibly receiving up to an inch of precipitation.
Today’s Activities
Due to the good work firefighters have done to contain the fire and construct firelines, moderated fire activity, and predicted wet weather, firefighters and equipment will begin to be released from the fire today. Management of the fire will transition to monitoring and patrolling, as well as completing data collection for structure protection and potential places for fireline construction. Most of the assessment work will be done northwest and west of the fire, especially in areas near the Camp Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp, including the Fazier and Little East Fork Road systems. Because the complexity of managing remaining work has decreased, the Southern Area Red Complex Management Team will transition to a Type 3 (smaller) organization on Saturday morning. The Type 3 team will mostly consist of members of the Southern Area Red Team who will remain while the rest of the team travels home.
A UAS (drone) is assigned to the fire to help with mapping and reconnaissance and will fly over the fire today. Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are available, if needed.
Weather/Fire Behavior: Today will be partly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. The high temperature will be 69-75 degrees with 43-47 percent minimum relative humidity. Winds will be south to southwest, 10-14 mph with gusts 13-27 mph.
Minimal fire activity is expected again today. Heat retained in large logs and dead trees may come to life. Live and dead vegetation on the ground may become receptive to fire in exposed areas on southern-facing or canopy-damaged slopes and ridges later in the day if cloud cover decreases. 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!
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Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Note: Widespread rainfall over the past 48 hours has reduced overall fire danger across much of North Carolina, so the North Carolina Forest Service has lifted a ban on all open burning across the state.
Please remain vigilant about burning safely and responsibly. Coinciding with the end of the statewide burn ban, the USDA Forest Service has lifted fire restrictions across the four National Forests in North Carolina.
Forest visitors may once again build campfires and use camp stoves and fire rings. However, several areas will continue experience warmer and windy weather in the days ahead, so please exercise extreme caution when burning outdoors.
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 of the hardwood leaves and branches on the ground. The cause remains under investigation.
The fire is approximately 1,851 acres and 24 percent contained. The reduction in acreage is due to better mapping. 176 personnel are on the fire.
Yesterday’s Activities
Yesterday the fire did not move, but with sunlight, heat in some large logs and dead trees came to life as flames. Firefighters continued to patrol, hold and mop up areas burned on the Rattlesnake Branch Fire and construct firelines to protect homes outside the fire footprint. Around Cruso, they patrolled along US 276 and homes to ensure no heat remains in those areas. Structure protection was a focus of work in the Burnette Cove Road area, including using leaf blowers to remove dead leaves and other debris away from structures. Firefighters used the support of a local residents in identifying locations for firelines north and west of the fire footprint, including an area close to the Shining Rock Wilderness Area boundary around Lenoir Creek. The intelligence will be used to connect potential firelines along a system of roads in the Dix Creek/Pollyanna Creek area and old Jeep trails and logging roads further to the west. Areas around Rickman Fields and Sorrells Creek were also identified as places for potential control lines. With clear air, the drone flew an infrared mission to better map the fire.
Today’s Activities
Today, crews will continue to improve, hold and monitor firelines, mopping up as necessary, to secure the fire’s edge around powerlines and private property in Cruso, along US-276, Crawford Creek and Rattlesnake Branch Road. In the Burnette Cove Road area, firefighters will continue to extend fire containment lines to protect private properties northward towards the East Fork of the Pigeon River. Firefighters will prepare Lenoir Creek to serve as a reliable containment line. They will continue to assess and gather data for a structure protection plan around Burnette Cove, Lenoir Lane, Dix Creek Road, Frazier Road, Little East Fork Road and the Camp Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp. Scouting for potential firelines will continue outside of wilderness north, northwest and west of the fire including Dix Creek Road, Chambers Cove Road, Rocky Branch Road and Murray Cove Road. Crews will remove downed trees from Glacier Road to improve access to potential fireline locations.
In the wilderness, firefighters will use only chainsaws, leaf blowers and bucket water drops from helicopters as necessary and will coordinate with a resource advisor to protect wilderness values during fire suppression operations. This includes determining appropriate areas from which to draft water.
A UAS (drone) is assigned to the fire to help with aerial ignition, mapping and reconnaissance. Today the drone will fly to do some infrared mapping of the fire, launching from the Schoolhouse Branch Road area west of the fire. Other aircraft available include two large helicopters, two small helicopters, an air attack platform and two fixed-wing “super scoopers”.
Weather/Fire Behavior: Today will be partly to mostly cloudy. The afternoon has a 50 percent chance of showers and a possible thunderstorm. The high temperature will be 61-64 degrees with 49-55 percent minimum relative humidity. Winds will be south/southeast, 11 mph with gusts 14-28 mph.
Even though yesterday was a good drying day, dead hardwood leaves on the ground retain moisture for a few days after a wetting rain. With today’s cloud cover keeping ground cover moist, minimal fire activity is expected. Heat retained in large logs and dead trees may come to life as they did yesterday. Live and dead vegetation on the ground may become receptive to fire in exposed areas on southern-facing or canopy-damaged slopes and ridges later in the day if cloud cover decreases. 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
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!
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Monday, March 31, 2025
From the Forest Service:
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. 107 personnel are on the fire.
Yesterday’s Activities
Firefighters 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 firelines around homes. Firefighters 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 a structure protection plan. A drone flew to identify hot spots with infrared technology and map the fire’s perimeter, but the weather limited its use.
Today’s Activities
Today, crews will continue to construct, hold and improve firelines and mop up as necessary, including mop up 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 firelines 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 UAS (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 pm, 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
Closures and Restrictions: The Pisgah National Forest has issued an area closure of the Shining Rock Wilderness
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, March 30
From Haywood County:
Acres: 1,882
Containment: 21%
The fire is growing at a slow, steady pace as it moves northwest, mostly through the Shining Rock Wilderness Area. Pisgah National Forest remains closed due to the fire.
Higher humidity levels overnight have helped slow the forward progress.
Hiking trails and recreation are also closed in the areas bordered by US 276, NC 215, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Firefighters have been working from the ground and from the air to control and direct the fire movement.
Over 100 homes and structures in Cruso have been protected by controlled burns that were completed over the last few days.
Thankfully, there are no significant injuries or damages as a result of the fire.
Saturday, March 29
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 1,200 acres and 20-percent contained. More than 80 personnel are on the fire, with more firefighters and equipment on the way.
Yesterday’s Activities
Firefighters 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 Activities
This 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.
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!
From Haywood County:
Crews spent all day yesterday working closely around homes and structures along 276 in Cruso. Controlled burning that happened very close to homes and the road looked exciting, but was very important to clear away flammable materials to make properties easier to protect as the main fire continues to burn.
We also had a helicopter team working with the ground teams to speed up the process.
As of this morning, the fire is estimated at over 1,200 acres and is about 20% contained. That 20% mostly represents the areas where controlled burning happened in “downtown Cruso” to protect populated areas.
Thankfully, so far there have been no homes lost or damaged, and no significant injuries.
The work done so far represents tremendous cooperation between Cruso Fire & Rescue, local fire departments, NC and US Forest Service teams, Emergency Management, and dozens of volunteers from many agencies.
Beginning today, the US Forest Service Southeast Region Red Team Incident Management is here to help with managing the incident in the coming days.
They will work side by side with Haywood County and regional teams to support the firefighting efforts.
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who have helped so far and welcome to the incoming team.
Friday, March 28, 7 p.m.
From the Forest Service:
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.
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.
Art Loeb Trail crossing at the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Friday, March 28, 3 p.m.
Fire crews are using a helicopter right now (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.
Friday, March 28, 9:00 a.m.
Acres: 795, 5% contained
Firefighters on the Rattlesnake Branch Fire conducted defensive controlled burns last night around the Crawford Creek Road and Rattlesnake Branch Road area down to US 276 to provide structure protection and in anticipation of gustier winds today that may increase fire behavior.
Expect smoke this morning in the Bethel and Cruso communities off US 276 due to these defensive burns.
There are 80 firefighters currently working on this fire. There are four engines assigned and a 20-person crew. A helicopter is on order to help with defensive burning if safety permits.
Firefighters will continue to work on protective fire lines around homes in the Cruso community. Safety is also paramount for firefighters working in areas with dead timber scattered on the ground.
We are currently in a Red Flag warning until 8 p.m. tonight. We are currently in a state-wide ban.
US 276 remains open.
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Little East Fork
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Shining Creek
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Big East Fork
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Mountains to Sea Trail Crossing at 215
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Art Loeb Trail at Camp Daniel Boone
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Art Loeb trail crossing at the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Hikers should obey all signs and expect to see trail guards patrolling trails near firefighting areas. Please limit your travel in this area so as not to hinder the work of fire crews. If you have travel plans in Haywood County, check with your host for updates.
Remember there is a burn ban in effect for the state of North Carolina.
March 27, 7:00 p.m.
Today, more than 80 firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service, North Carolina Forest Service and local agencies made progress today building fire lines. After an infrared flight late this afternoon, the fire was measured at 629 acres. The fire is approximately ¼ of a mile from the fire department in Cruso and is 5 percent contained.
The Rattlesnake Branch Fire started yesterday afternoon on private land and is under investigation.
The fire is burning in hardwood leaf litter and is traveling west from US 276 toward the Shining Rock Wilderness Area. Control lines (fire lines) were built between homes and the active fire edge along Crawford Creek Road and US 276 near Rattlesnake Branch Rd. Firefighters also began backburning – a firefighting measure to remove fuel from a fire’s potential path.
Firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor areas throughout the night.
The Cruso area and US 276 remain open.
Closures:
Shining Rock Wilderness Area is closed for all uses, including the following trailheads:
Little East Fork, Shining Creek, Big East Fork, Mountains to Sea Trail Crossing at 215, Art Loeb Trail at Camp Daniel Boone, and Art Loeb trail crossing at the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hikers are instructed to obey all signs and expect to see trail guards patrolling trails near firefighting areas.
Please limit your travel in this area due to fire crews. If you have travel plans in Haywood County, you may want to check with your host.
Remember there is burn ban in effect for the state of North Carolina.
Firefighters and equipment are on the scene working to reduce fire risk. A helicopter will fly over the area today to assess the fire, and firefighters will set controlled burns in certain areas to help protect homes and structures.
The fire is at 0% containment. These controlled burns help reduce the fire’s intensity by removing extra fuel. People in Cruso and Bethel will see smoke from these operations.
Wednesday, March 26, 8:30 p.m.
At 8 p.m. the Rattlesnake Branch Fire is holding at 200 acres. About 40 firefighters are on scene. Support crews are continuing to arrive. Four additional engines have been ordered.
Winds are currently blowing from the west under 10 mph with humidity about 30 percent.
Firefighters will continue to monitor fire behavior throughout the night. Firefighters are monitoring a small number of high-risk structures in the area.
There are no evacuations currently in place for Haywood County.
The governor has declared a state of emergency in Western North Carolina due to the wildfires.
More information will be posted as it becomes available.