Above: The map shows the location of some of the larger wildfires currently burning in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
There are still dozens of wildfires burning in the southern United States, primarily in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Firefighters have slowed the progress of many of them but others are still spreading. The weather on Sunday was not quite as conducive to extreme fire behavior, but most areas are still extremely dry and have not had significant precipitation in weeks.
The weather forecast for the Asheville, NC area through Saturday, November 12, calls for more of the same weather — moderate winds, daily high temperatures in the 60s, and relative humidities in the 80s at night and the 30s in the afternoon.
Below are some statistics for the active fires in the Southern Geographic Area:
- 73 active fires
- 109,563 cumulative acres
- 103 hand crews assigned
- 242 engines
- 19 helicopters
- 3,492 personnel
Here is a look at five of the more active blazes:
Party Rock Fire

The Party Rock Fire has been burning just north of Lake Lure, North Carolina since November 5. It has blackened 3,457 acres and required evacuations in the Chimney Rock community. On Saturday and Sunday it grew by 574 acres, with most of the additional acres being on the southwest and northwest sides.
Tellico Fire

The Tellico Fire three miles south of Almond, North Carolina expanded by 3,791 acres over the weekend and now stretches across 13,676 acres after merging with another fire, the Ferebee Fire. It spotted across the Little Tennessee River to the east, but that spot was contained at about 100 acres. U.S. Highway 19 on the west side of the fire was closed on Sunday.
Rock Mountain Fire

The Rock Mountain Fire in the northeast corner of Georgia has been very active in recent days, growing by 1,000 acres on Sunday to a total of 4,100, spreading about 1/2 mile each day. Due to the aggressive growth on Sunday all firefighting resources were assigned to structure protection; so far no structures have been destroyed but 54 remain threatened. On Sunday it was most active on the northwest and northeast sides.
Tatum Gulf Fire

The Tatum Gulf Fire is just east of the Alabama/Georgia state line 15 miles south of Trenton, Georgia. It has burned into the 500-acre Lookout Mountain Fire which straddles the state line. The total combined size is now 1,325 acres, with 1,150 of those acres being added on Saturday or Sunday. On Sunday it was most active on the west and north sides.
Rough Ridge Fire

The Rough Ridge Fire in north-central Georgia has burned to within a few hundred feet of the Tennessee state line. It has been very active over the last two days, growing by 2,475 acres for a new total of 19,411 acres. Smoke in the area on Sunday made the use of firefighting aircraft impossible. The fire has been burning for almost a month, and some areas that burned weeks ago are re-burning as leaves fall off the hardwood trees. The leaves have covered some control lines which reduces their ability to stop the fire’s spread as the areas burn again.
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