Smokies hit by wildfires
Two active wildfires — Rabbit Creek and Fox Gap — are burning in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, forcing closure of the Twentymile Trail plus several nearby roads and campgrounds as crews from neighboring forests and federal agencies respond. (knoxnews.com) (theonefeather.com)
The National Park Service said the Rabbit Creek fire was about 47.5 acres and roughly 50% contained in its March 26 update, and park managers had ordered additional firefighting resources for both incidents. (nps.gov) State and local outlets reported changing conditions the next day, with the Fox Gap fire estimated at about 111 acres and 0% contained while Rabbit Creek was reported at roughly 48 acres and 75% contained as crews reinforced lines. (wate.com) Park notices list the specific backcountry closures tied to the incidents — backcountry campsites 16 and 93, Rabbit Creek Trail, Cooper Road Trail and access to the Twentymile Ranger Station — and the Abrams Creek Campground road was closed so crews could stage equipment. (nps.gov) Observers and park statements said firefighters used aerial water drops on the Fox Gap ignition on Thursday, which slowed its growth and left only minimal overnight spread as crews worked to build hand and dozer lines. (wbir.com) Great Smoky Mountains crews were joined by personnel from Cherokee National Forest, Nantahala National Forest, other U.S. Forest Service units and Bureau of Land Management teams to support suppression and logistics. (wate.com) Separately, park officials closed a section of Little River Road from Metcalf Bottoms to the Townsend Wye after a rockslide on March 27, and the Park Service reiterated that neither wildfire is connected to planned prescribed burns at Lynn Hollow and Wear Cove Gap. (wbir.com)
