Date: April 24, 2007
Contact: Nancy Gray, (865) 436-1208

Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced the emergency closures of several facilities in Big Creek area of the park, near Waterville, North Carolina, due to a wildfire that became active Monday afternoon.

A visitor reported the fire to the park around 2:30 p.m. on Monday. The fire is about 1.5 miles inside the park boundary and is located about 0.3 mile from the Big Creek Trailhead between Big Creek Trail and Chestnut Branch Trail. Aerial reconnaissance of the fire yesterday afternoon estimated the fire to be about 40 acres north of Big Creek Trail.

Park officials have closed trails in the vicinity of the fire that include portions of Big Creek and Baxter Creek Trails and Chestnut Branch Trail until further notice. Also, Big Creek campground and Horse Camp are also closed.

The portion of the Appalachian Trail through this area is unaffected and can be accessed at Davenport Gap. Also backcountry campsites 36, 37, and 38 in the area are open as is Mount Sterling Trail.

Currently, a crew of 20 Great Smoky Mountains National Park firefighters is on the scene. Today’s objective will be to determine and establish fire lines to help contain the wildfire. A U.S. Forest Service contract helicopter from Erwin, Tennessee, will fly over the area this morning to provide updated information on the location and size of the fire as well as fire suppression support.