US secretary of agriculture visits WNC in aftermath of wildfires

On Thursday, newly confirmed secretary of the US Department of Agriculture Brooke Rollins visited western North Carolina to survey the damage caused by the recent wildfires and Helene. Rollins’s visit came a day ahead of the original schedule, which was announced early last week.

“I met with North Carolinians who have suffered unimaginable loss from recent natural disasters,” said Rollins in a press release. “The US Forest Service was well-prepared, assessing wildfire risks in advance and strategically positioning resources to respond quickly. Thanks to their efforts, they were able to contain the fires swiftly. USDA continues to work closely with state and local agencies, as well as first responders, to support these communities and restore the public lands that so many rural residents depend on.”

Rollins toured the Blue Ridge Parkway damage, attended a wildfire operations briefing, and participated in a US Forest Service roundtable with local leaders and community members in Asheville.

The Hicks Cemetery Fire, located in the Pisgah National Forest within the Appalachian Ranger District of Haywood County, affected approximately 198 acres before being fully contained on March 9.

The Ramshorn Fire in the Croatan National Forest in Carteret County impacted 110 acres and was successfully contained by March 2.

Finally, the Falls Dam Fire, which started on the same date in the Uwharrie National Forest in Montgomery County, burned through 505 acres and is currently 92% contained, Matthew Switzer, public information officer for the US Forest Service, told the Carolina Journal.

This shows significant improvement from last week, when the Falls Dam Fire in the Uwharrie National Forest in Montgomery County was only 65% contained, and the Hicks Cemetery Fire in the Pisgah National Forest in Haywood County was only 40% contained.

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