Blue Ridge Parkway RFA Partner Provides Initial Attack Assistance
At 3 pm on Tuesday, March 8, 2006, the Reems Creek Rural Fire Department responded
to the Rattlesnake Fire in Ashville, North Carolina. Initial attack was conducted by the
Reems Creek Rural Fire Department and supported by a North Carolina Forest Service
Type 2 helicopter dropping water from buckets. They had the fire contained at 1.5 acres
by that night. National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service firefighters also responded.
The fire was located in a closed section of the Blue Ridge Parkway along a popular
hiking trail at a cultural site. The initial attack response capabilities of firefighters helped
keep fire encroachment into the cultural site to a minimum.
Reems Creek Rural Fire Department is one of 49 local fire departments the Blue Ridge
Parkway has provided wildland fire training, personal protective equipment, and tools for
as part of the Rural Fire Assistance (RFA) program under the National Fire Plan.
Contact:John Garrison, Park Ranger Phone: (828) 271-4779 x 240
