WATAUGA COUNTY, NC (November 29, 2016)…The Horton fire area has received over 3/4” of rain with more on the way. The rain brings much needed moisture to the area. Fire managers plan to reassess the containment percentage tomorrow. The rain is expected to exterminate much of the subsurface heat; however, additional heat may still exist in deep pockets.
Burn Ban Still in Affect…
Just a reminder, despite the rain, the burn ban is still in affect. Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in Watauga County.
Dirt roads in the Horton Fire area are going to be unusually slick with all the rain. Please use extra caution when navigating these roads.
Fire managers are beginning to assess a rehabilitation plan for the Horton Fire area. To the extent possible, they want to return the landscape, that has been modified during firefighting operations, to its original state.
The Incident Command Post will move to the Blowing Rock Fire Department tonight to allow the Laurel Fork Baptist Church to hold their Wednesday night service. “Our team is incredibly grateful to the Laurel Fork Baptist Church for their support and welcome,” said Incident Commander Rodney Weeks.
Starting today, Horton fire information will be sent out once a day in the morning on the Watauga County Emergency Management Facebook page, on Twitter @FireHorton, and at HortonFire.blogspot.com. The Horton Fire information line 828-201-2885 will be active through 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 2.