Rattlesnake Branch Fire Update

Haywood County -- U.S Forest Service National Forests in North CarolinaEvening update for Rattlesnake Branch Fire 3/28/25 Evening update for Rattlesnake Branch Fire. A variety of firefighting actions occurred today to protect homes in the community of Cruso from the Rattlesnake Branch Fire.

One hundred and forty firefighters and support personnel from the U.S. Forest Service, North Carolina Forest Service and Haywood County worked together to conduct defensive burning around the Crawford Creek Road, Rattlesnake Branch Road and Cold Creek Road down to US 276.

They also continued to provide structure protection around homes by creating defensive fire lines with hand tools and dozers. 
The last mapped fire acreage early this afternoon was 506 acres from Rattlesnake Branch Fire and 289 acres from firing operations, totaling 795 acres. 

This afternoon a helicopter performed firing operations to assist firefighters in removing fuel in strategic locations to safeguard homes and structures. Smoke remains in the area.

Please use caution when driving on US 276 because crews are driving heavy equipment and patrolling for hot spots along the highway. Four engines were assigned to the incident today and two more are being ordered. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle that can map fire locations and help perform burnout operations has been ordered, as well as a 20-person hand crew 
Firefighters will continue to work monitoring and patrolling fire lines throughout the night. The Southern Area Red Incident Management Team will assume control of the fire at 6 a.m. Saturday. 

US 276 remains open.
Closures:
The Shining Rock Wilderness Area is closed for all uses, including the following trailheads:
Little East Fork
Shining Creek
Big East Fork
Mountains to Sea Trail Crossing at 215
Art Loeb Trail at Camp Daniel Boone
Art Loeb trail crossing at the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Hikers should obey all signs and expect to see trail guards patrolling trails near firefighting areas. Please limit your travel in this area so as not to hinder the work of fire crews. If you have travel plans in Haywood County, check with your host for updates. Remember there is a burn ban in effect for the state of North Carolina.
More information will be posted as it becomes available

Haywood County Emergency Services Posted on Social Media Last Night

Rattlesnake Fire Friday evening update. 
Back burning around homes and structures along 276 over the last few days have gone well. 
You’ll notice a lot of smoke and blackened areas due to all this work, which is intentional. 
No homes have been damaged so far and there are no injuries, for which we’re thankful. 
Over 100 responders have been working around the clock on this fire, and everyone is tired but dedicated to seeing us through. 
Some of the team members will transition out, but we will continue to update you here and on readyhaywood.com/wildfire

Image: WNCTimes