The Rock Mountain wildfire burning in steep terrain along the Tallulah River Road in Rabun County in the Chattahoochee National Forest. (USDA Forest Service/Jason Engle)
The Rock Mountain Fire is now about 900 acres and burning on both sides of Tallulah River Road about 10 miles north of Clayton, according to the US Forest Service.
The fire jumped containment lines Friday afternoon, forcing the evacuation of residents in the Coleman River and Nichols Branch Road areas. Roughly 25-40 homes are in the affected area.
Non-residents are being asked to stay away from the area to allow firefighters to do their jobs as quickly and safely as possible.
The Rabun County Emergency Management Agency has established a shelter at Liberty Baptist Church, 2206 Bridge Creek Road in Tiger. Displaced residents have access to shelter, bedding, food and necessary supplies.
Arson suspect sought
As homeowners shelter for safety, fire crews continue working to protect homes and structures near the fire. They’re clearing dry leaves and other debris and are scouting out additional containment lines. “The fire is burning steady with four-five foot flame lengths,” says Jason Engle, acting district ranger for the Chattooga River Ranger District. “It’s not moving fast but it’s not easy to stop either. Steep and rugged terrain makes safe firefighting difficult.”
The wildfire is believed to have been intentionally set. The Associated Press reports law enforcement suspects someone started a series of small roadside fires along Tallulah River Road on Wednesday that eventually grew into the much larger blaze firefighters are now battling.
The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office issued a lookout for a white male driving a dark blue colored SUV that was seen in the area where the fires started. “If you see a vehicle like this and its activities appear suspicious -i.e. lighting fires, please call 911 and be a good witness,” the office posted on Facebook.
Total fire ban
Due to extreme fire danger and the current drought situation, a total fire ban is in place on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. This means building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire (including charcoal based fire whether contained in a grill or not) is prohibited. Commercially available fuel stoves (camp stoves) are allowed.
Air quality warnings
Smoke from the Rock Mountain Fire, as well as other fires throughout northern Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and North Carolina, are expected to continue to impact local air quality. If you’re sensitive to smoke, you should stay indoors. People with asthma, lung or heart disease, children, older adults and pregnant women should take precautions to avoid exposure to smoke.
READ: Wildfire Smoke and Weather Update
If you experience health effects from the smoke, see your doctor or health professional as needed. Use caution when driving in or around smoky areas.
For more information about the Rock Mountain Fire, call 470-208-2866. Information also is available on the Chattahoochee-Oconee website at www.fs.usda.gov/conf, as well as Facebook and Twitter @ChattOconeeNF.
To sign up for public safety alerts in Rabun and surrounding counties, register for Nixle at visit https://local.nixle.com/register/.
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Original article: Rabun County wildfire spreads: Search for arson suspect continues.