WATAUGA COUNTY, NC (December 1, 2016)…The Horton fire is 95% contained and 1,450 acres. There are approximately 50 resources on the fire. Over three inches of rain have helped firefighters extinguish hot spots. Although the rain significantly cooled surface heat, more moisture is necessary to reach deep-seated pockets of heat that hold out in stump holes. Steep terrain, hidden hot spots and snags still pose hazards to firefighters mopping up hot spots.
Fire managers developed a rehabilitation plan with North Carolina State Forest Service for the Horton Fire area. This plan involves, to the extent possible, returning the landscape that has been modified during firefighting operations to its original state.
The Watauga County burn ban is still in effect. The ban that has been in effect since November 7 prohibits outdoor open flames and cancels any burning permits.
The Incident Command Post has moved to the Blowing Rock Fire Department. Information for Horton Fire will be posted through Friday on HortonFire.blogspot.com, Twitter @FireHorton, and on the Watauga County Emergency Management Facebook page. The Horton Fire information line (828-201-2885) will be active through 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 2.