News Release

November 18, 1999
For information contact:
Bob McKinney or Pat Momich
Cheoah Ranger District 
828-479-6431

 For Immediate Release

Firefighters Make Progress on  Nantahala NF fires 

Avey Complex Fire, 12 p.m, November 18, 1999.

Over 300 firefighters from 18 states continue to battle wildfires that have scorched over 2600 acres of  Nantahala National Forest around Robbinsville, NC.  Four of the fires are burning near the edge of Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness area in the northwest part of Graham County.  Firefighters are vigorously protecting Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and the Stewart cabin, a historic home place settled in the mid-1800’s. 

On Wednesday, two fires—Maple Springs and Sweetwater—were contained, but four more fires began.  Of the new fires, firefighters contained two and are still fighting the other two.  One of the new fires, Big Roughy, is 150 acres of both national forest and private land.  The North Carolina Division of Forest Resources is battling the fire on private land. 

 Firefighters are from all over the country and include some of the best.  Several crews are out of Arizona and New Mexico.  North Carolina crews include the Cheoah Ranger District firefighters and crews from the Schenck and LBJ Jobs Corps Centers.  Three helicopters assisted the effort by dropping water on the fire.  The fires are human-caused.  Arson is a possibility.

 “The going has been tough due to the steepness of the terrain,” reported Fire Information Officer Bob McKinney.  “But spirits are high.”  Safety is foremost in the minds of all fire personnel.  No serious injuries have been reported.

 “We have good people giving everything they can,” said Glenn McConnell, District Ranger for the Cheoah District. “If the weather would give us a break, we’d get this thing out.”

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