News Release

Whitney Fire – 354 acres on the 4th of July

Date: July 4, 2019
Contact: Christopher Derman, 912-882-4336 x300

Whitney Fire – 354 acres on the 4^th of July


07/04/2019 – The Whitney Fire was ignited by a lightning strike the early morning of June 29^th within the Cumberland Island Wilderness Area on Cumberland Island. The fire is currently 354 acres and is holding south of North Cut Road. Crews have established structure protection in the Settlement and High Point areas, and have held fire south of North Cut Road. No evacuations have been ordered.

Command of fire operations has transitioned to the Southern Area Gray Incident Management Team. There are 58 personnel, 1 helicopter, and 5 engines currently on the incident.

The following closures remain in effect:
 

• North Cut Road including the Shell Road to the old wharf ruins
• Main Road at the junction of South Cut Road, Main Road is closed from here to the north.  
• Killman Field Trail
• Bunkley Trail
• Rollercoaster Trail north of South Cut Road.
• Brickhill Trail
• Terrapin Point Trail
• Lake Whitney Trail
• Brickhill Bluff Campground

Over the past two years Cumberland Island National Seashore’s fire management team has worked to put in place a fuel break along North Cut Road by clearing debris and fuels along the road edge. This created a defensible zone fire crews are using to protect the island’s historic structures and residences to the north.

Fire is a part of Cumberland Island’s ecosystem and occurs at regular intervals as part of the natural fire cycle.

Public questions and media enquiries should be directed to the incident’s Public Information Office at 912-882-4336 x300.

For additional information please visit our Cumberland Island National Seashore website at: www.nps.gov/cuis and www.facebook.com/CumberlandIslandNPS  
 

Duration:

1 minute, 32 seconds

07/04/2019 – The Whitney Fire was ignited by a lightning strike the early morning of June 29th within the Cumberland Island Wilderness Area on Cumberland Island. The fire is currently 354 acres and is holding south of North Cut Road. Crews have established structure protection in the Settlement and High Point areas, and have held fire south of North Cut Road. No evacuations have been ordered. Over the past two years Cumberland Island National Seashore’s fire management team has worked to put in place a fuel break along North Cut Road by clearing debris and fuels along the road edge. This created a defensible zone fire crews are using to protect the island’s historic structures and residences to the north.