Harper Tate
389 Country
A large wildland fire broke out on Wednesday, March 12, along U.S. Highway 64 East at the base of Franklin Mountain, prompting a swift and coordinated response from Clay County Fire and Rescue, the North Carolina Forest Service, and the U.S. Forest Service. Residents in the Eagle View and Thumping Creek areas were alerted to the blaze, which generated significant smoke visible throughout the region.
Clay County Fire and Rescue initially notified residents near Eagle Fork and Thumping Creek of the fire on Wednesday, urging them to stay tuned for updates. As the situation unfolded, officials confirmed that fire crews were actively managing the wildfire, with units stationed on standby in the affected areas. Authorities reassured residents that no evacuation orders were necessary at the time, though they pledged to provide further information as it became available.
In an update issued later, Clay County Fire and Rescue announced that the fire had been successfully contained. Firefighters cleared all structures in the vicinity, while forestry teams completed a fire line to halt further spread. The North Carolina and U.S. Forest Services are now conducting controlled backburns to reinforce containment efforts, and officials have cautioned that smoke will likely persist in the Shooting Creek area as a result.
Clay County Fire and Rescue extended appreciation to their partners in the response effort, including Clay County EMS, Clay County Emergency Management, and both the North Carolina and U.S. Forestry Services. “We want to thank [them] for all their assistance in containing the fire and [for] information release to keep the citizens updated,” the department stated in a social media post.
No injuries or structural damage have been reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Residents are encouraged to stay vigilant and monitor official channels for any additional updates as backburning operations continue.
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