MARION — Firefighters successfully completed strategic firing operations over the weekend to reduce unburned fuels on the Bee Rock Creek Fire in McDowell County near the Armstrong State Fish Hatchery, according to a U.S. Forest Service release.
This week, firefighters will continue mopping up hotspots, securing containment lines and patrolling the fire’s edge. They are also repairing areas disturbed by suppression activities. This includes installing water bars on dozer lines to reduce erosion.
After careful coordination and evaluation of current fire behavior and containment progress, McDowell County Emergency Management lifted the evacuation order for residences on Wild Acres Road and Wild Acres Retreat. Officials urge residents to remain cautious and aware of any ongoing firefighting activity in the area.
The 1,397-acre fire has stayed at 27 percent containment for much of the past week, with 159 personnel from the USDA Forest Service, North Carolina Forest Service, National Park Service, McDowell County and Woodlawn Fire Department fighting the fire.
The National Forests in North Carolina office closed the area of the Bee Rock Creek Fire between Armstrong Creek Road and the Blue Ridge Parkway for public and firefighter safety.
Some sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway are also closed. Check the National Park Service website for details before visiting.
A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the fire area each day from 10 a.m. to midnight. See the map at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_7644.
Aircraft, including drones, are prohibited from flying to provide a safe environment for firefighting. If you fly, firefighters can’t. If a drone is spotted near the fire, all aircraft are grounded until the drone is clear of the area.
USFS is asking the public to be aware of smoke and crews in the area. Drive slowly and use caution on roads where smoke may be settling. Check air quality at https://airquality.climate.ncsu.edu/ or https://fire.airnow.gov.
Over the weekend, Mitchell County released a statement about how the forest fire smoke is affecting the Mitchell community through its Hyper-Reach text message and email alert system.
“Many Mitchell County citizens have been affected by the smoke of the Bee Rock Creek Fire in McDowell County,” the statement read. “Today, Saturday, April the 19 and tomorrow, April the 20, back burning operations may once again increase smoke conditions throughout the little Switzerland community and any citizens living near the McDowell county line. These back burning operations are being conducted by the U.S. Forest service to help achieve containment.”
Mitchell authorities also advised drivers to be careful on the roads because of the smoke blurring visibility, and to keep an eye out for fire trucks and other equipment on the roads.
More updates on this fire are available on Facebook and Inciweb.
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/nfsnc
• Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ncncf-2025-bee-rock-creek-fire-ncncf