UPDATE: McDowell County 911/Emergency Management says that smoke from the Clear Creek Fire will be extremely heavy over U.S. 70 West and Interstate Monday night, and drivers should use caution.

Drop-off points for supplies for Clear Creek Fire are the McDowell County Rescue Squad and the P.G. Baptist Church



****

Smoke is billowing from the mountains of McDowell county after two wildfires break out over the weekend.

One fire off Curtis Creek Road is now 100 percent contained. The other, near Clear Creek Road continues to grow.



Fire investigators are asking for help identifying a person they believe has set at least four roadside fires in McDowell County in the last two weeks.

Local fire investigators ask for the public’s helping identifying a person they believe is setting wildfires in McDowell County.



In two weeks, there have been roadside fires started in Woodlawn, North Cove, Pleasant Gardens and Marion. Some have been extinguished within hours. Others, like the Clear Creek Road blaze that approximately 100 local, regional, state and federal officials continue to fight, have lasted days.

“We’ve seen a recent rash of this, and it needs to stop,” said Fire Investigator Craig Walker of McDowell County Emergency Management. “Fire conditions are very serious right now, and this person is putting people’s lives and property in danger.”

Members of Emergency Management, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Forest Service are investigating.

Anyone with information about the fires or a possible suspect is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 652-2235, the 911 communications center at 652-4000 or McDowell County Crimestoppers at 65-CRIME (652-7463).

Residents can also text tips to Crimestoppers. Text MCDOWELLTIPS and your information to 274637 (CRIMES). With Crimestoppers, your identity remains anonymous, and you could receive a cash reward.

There is dense smoke in the area near Lake Tahoma, off of Highway 80. Emergency officials we spoke with at the command post say it appears winds today could push the flames that direction.



Earlier Monday morning emergency officials escorted us down Clear Creek Road, to see the fire line firsthand.



Burnout operations are set to take place near there on Monday, to push the fire away from nearby homes. So far no structures have caught fire and no evacuations are in place.

State Forest Service rangers want to assure those who live near Clear Creek Road that they are working around the clock to stop the fire.

"We're stressing that we're keeping people out here 24 hours a day to make sure that their homes are safe. Without the volunteer fire departments helping, we wouldn't be able to do the job. They do a good job of being proactive," said Chris Davis, an Asst. County Ranger with the N.C. Forest Service. "There are still a few on the other side of the Clear Creek Road at the end, that are still in somewhat of a danger. The plan is to keep them out of the perimeter of the fire."

With burnout operations planned, you can expect very smoky conditions.



The Clear Creek fire has already charred almost 200 acres, if not more.

We have seen fire trucks from other areas here in McDowell county, and we're told that some resources that were on the ground near Lake Lure fighting the Party Rock wildfire are now assisting here.





