A wildfire first spotted Wednesday has now spread to over 110 acres.
James Heaton, Public Information Officer with the Cherokee National Forest, said the fire was first discovered inside Cocke County Wednesday, and spread Thursday into Greene County. Investigators believe the fire to be human caused.
As of Saturday evening, two helicopters were used to help battle the fire. Heaton said each water drop consists of 1,000 gallons.
There are as many as four firefighting crews, consisting of from 20 to 22 individuals, including Federal Hot Shots, from other states present to help get the wildfire contained. As of Saturday night, containment was at a little more than 10% due to rough terrain and inaccessibility. Fire activity Saturday was low in intensity but produced smoke that was held in the Houston Valley. The Forest Service is urging sightseers to stay away from the area, as narrow roads and low visibility already can hamper firefighting efforts.
Dry conditions are expected to continue for the next few days, and considerable efforts are being made to keep the fire from spreading further. The Forest Service urges residents along that area to be vigilant and keep an eye on conditions.
