04/02/2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Transylvania County Forest Fire Update, 6 PM
See www.transylvaniacounty.org/2025-wildfire
Future updates will be issued daily unless conditions change while under the Transylvania County State of Emergency for Wildfire.
Transylvania County, NC Fire Updates
• After consultation with the Table Rock Complex Fire Blue Team command, Transylvania County is lifting the yellow zone. Please avoid travel in the area for now as there will continue to be firefighters and equipment still moving through the area as the team continues to move towards containment of the fire.
• A burning ban remains in effect for all of North Carolina including Transylvania County.
• Preliminary estimates reflect approximately 606 Acres have been burned in Transylvania County including approximately 2.4 acres of private property. Most of the damage has occurred on state forest land and no homes have been damaged due to the fire.
• The Southern Area Incident Command is focused on constructing control lines along the fire’s edge in North Carolina and northeastern edge in South Carolina. Air operations are using unmanned aircraft to map hotspots near the fire’s edge so firefighters can strategically extinguish burning material. South Carolina mandatory evacuations have been lifted.
• Transylvania County is partnering with the Southern Area Incident Management Blue Team and North Carolina Emergency Management Department to provide some public education tools to better understand the forest fires and what happens during an emergency.
• Three boards have been posted by the SAIM Blue Team. They are located at Cedar Mountain Fire Department, The Outpost and at Transylvania County Public Safety. These boards are updated daily with maps and information on the fire operation.
Connestee Fire and Rescue Update
No update submitted.
Cedar Mountain Fire and Rescue Update
As of 8:00 PM last night the department went to normal operations for calls. Hwy 276 is now open to SC but please limit travel due to fire crews still operating around Persimmon Ridge and along other areas of 276 as forestry continues to secure the fire lines.. All mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted. Please remain vigilant on activities and the weather if we don;t get more rain in the next few days. Please continue to observe the outdoor burning until conditions really improve.
Table Rock Complex Incident Command Update
The Southern Area Blue Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) is managing the Table Rock Complex, in unified command with multiple state and local agencies in both North and South Carolina.
Persimmon Ridge Fire
Size: 2,078 acres
Containment: 44 percent
Fire Start Date: March 22, 2025
Cause: Human-caused
The Persimmon Ridge Fire has ceased growth and will remain in its current footprint. Today’s drying weather allowed firefighters to utilize heavy equipment on the eastern edge of the fire, which was heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene. Crews are working on breaking up large trees to reduce the amount of fuel available to burn.
Table Rock Fire
Size: 13,287 acres (SC)
635 acres (NC)
Containment: 30 percent
Fire Start Date: March 21, 2025
Cause: Human-caused
The fire received around 1.5 inches or rain over the last two days reducing fire activity. Today crews focused on extinguishing hotspots and securing control lines. Firefighters continued to build containment lines along the eastern edge of the fire near Raven Cliffs.
Rattlesnake Ridge Fire, US Forestry Service Update (Fire has not breached into Transylvania)
Note: Please drive cautiously on State Route 276 and other roads around the fire. Please do not stop along the side of the road for your protection and the protection of firefighters and equipment.
The fire is approximately 1,865 acres and 24 percent contained. Containment activities continue today with crews continuing to evaluate areas around the fire for structure protection needs.
