Little Pond fire consumes five acres near Watauga Lake
Published 1:52 pm Tuesday, July 21, 2020
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FROM STAFF REPORTS
Hampton – USDA Forest Service officials say crews are working a wildfire in Cherokee National Forest near Watauga Lake in Carter County.
The fire has burned five acres on the upper slopes of Little Pond Mountain, 1.5 miles south of Watauga Lake and seven miles south of Hampton.
The Little Pond fire was first reported to Forest Service personnel at approximately 11 a.m. on July 18. The cause of the fire is unknown.
Due to the remoteness of the fire, steep and rugged terrain, and extreme heat firefighters are constructing an indirect fire line and using natural barriers to slow and stop the fire in a predetermined area.
Cherokee National Forest resources assigned to the fire include one helicopter, one bulldozer, two fire engines, and a 20-person hand crew from the North Carolina State Forest Service.
Smoke may be visible from the lake and surrounding communities.
At this time no structures are threatened and there are no area closures in place.
Fire managers say to please remember to not fly drones in the area of any firefighting operations – if you fly they can’t.
