Poplar Drive Fire in Henderson County NC

[RaleighGuy]

The Poplar Drive Fire burning in the Edneyville community is 250 acres in size and 5% contained as of 9 a.m., Nov. 5. Two homes and an outbuilding have been lost, while another home sustained minimal damage.

Henderson County Emergency Management and Henderson County Sheriff’s Office have implemented evacuations with at least 34 structures currently threatened.

Firefighting personnel will continue establishing and strengthening containment lines, conducting strategic firing operations and providing structure protection. Personnel with the N.C. Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service, Office of State Fire Marshal, Edneyville Fire Department, Henderson County Emergency Management and fire departments from Buncombe, Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties are responding to the incident.

Aviation resources include a scout plane and helicopter from the N.C. Forest Service.

 

[kg4ehv]

They have been working fires all over. They get one out and two more pop up. Thank you to all the hands protecting us, they are doing a super job.

 

[RaleighGuy]

They have been working fires all over. They get one out and two more pop up. Thank you to all the hands protecting us, they are doing a super job.

Have you monitored any FF activity that you can share the frequencies or systems/TGs?

 

[kg4ehv]

Been hearing them on viper pretty much the last two weeks or so. Also have all my counties Fire tac. going. Forest service been busy, they seem to be on 151.475 Mhz. ops.

 

[kg4ehv]

Forest service also 154.445 Mhz. Had 4 homes fires today so far .

 

[RaleighGuy]

Okay, a little confused here, maybe someone can help me understand, this morning the 9am update said the fire was 250 acres in size, then tonight they said, "following Sunday’s successful strategic firing operations" the fire covered 431 (nearly double the size) acres.

How was that such a success?

 

[trumpetman]

431 acres may be better than the 600 or 700 acres it could have been without back-burning efforts. Hopefully successful burn ops will mean the fire remains close to 431 acres as long as it doesn't jump any lines. Total burn area includes fire that was intentionally set to keep a fire in check. Also I believe this is the first time containment has been greater than 0%, even if it's only 5%, that's still progress.

 

[RaleighGuy]

431 acres may be better than the 600 or 700 acres it could have been without back-burning efforts. Hopefully successful burn ops will mean the fire remains close to 431 acres as long as it doesn't jump any lines. Total burn area includes fire that was intentionally set to keep a fire in check. Also I believe this is the first time containment has been greater than 0%, even if it's only 5%, that's still progress.

Thanks for the explaination

 

[brian]

Henderson County's NXDN trunked radio system, that the fire departments use (along with other County agencies), is encrypted. I'd be interested to know if the fire departments are using that system as their primary communication platform for this incident, as opposed to some VHF simplex channels? . And do the supporting agencies (mostly from the state) have access to the encrypted trunked system?

Maybe the tac channels referenced previously are the VHF simplex frequencies labeled as Fireground channels in the database?

 

[RaleighGuy]

Henderson County's NXDN trunked radio system, that the fire departments use (along with other County agencies), is encrypted. I'd be interested to know if the fire departments are using that system as their primary communication platform for this incident, as opposed to some VHF simplex channels? . And do the supporting agencies (mostly from the state) have access to the encrypted trunked system?

Maybe the tac channels referenced previously are the VHF simplex frequencies labeled as Fireground channels in the database?

Earlier comment said lots of VIPER coordination.

 

[jake_Braker]

Not fully Henderson County related.

NCFS District 9 is utilizing VHF ops (151.175), tac 1 (151.280), tac 2 (159.375) and VIPER for the two on-going fires in Jackson County.
The Cullowhee Fire repeater (453.850) is also being used.

 

[RaleighGuy]

Not fully Henderson County related.

NCFS District 9 is utilizing VHF ops (151.175), tac 1 (151.280), tac 2 (159.375) and VIPER for the two on-going fires in Jackson County.
The Cullowhee Fire repeater (453.850) is also being used.

Thanks for the update

 

[2154]

The early portions of the Henderson county fire were using the Henderson county NXDN system primarily with some crosspatch on the local 8tac93 repeater. Since more state resources have come in, they have switched to VIPER and have about a half a dozen SW VIPER event TGs in use. NCFS is still primarily using their VHF analog incident frequencies.

 

[kg4ehv]

Some people you just cant reach, after all this some people are still open burning and the Forest Service is writing them tickets.

 

[RaleighGuy]

The Poplar Drive Fire in Henderson County is now 15% contained. Percent containment represents sections of fire line that pose no escape risk without further action from firefighters. The fire remains 431 acres. Firefighters are working to improve and reinforce existing control lines around the fire. Two drop tanks for water have been placed in critical areas to aid in extinguishing the smoldering fire. More water tendering resources will be assigned to the fire in the coming days.

 

[RaleighGuy]

N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has canceled all burning permits for Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Caldwell, Catawba, Haywood, Iredell, Lincoln, Madison, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties effective 5 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 8, until further notice.

“With the long-range forecast and conditions on the ground showing no improvement, expanding the ban on open burning to additional counties is a necessary precaution,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We keep a close eye on weather, fire danger and fuel conditions, especially this time of year. We’re making daily assessments, and the burn ban will be expanded into Piedmont counties and further east if needed. If you’re in a county that does not fall under the ban, think twice about any outdoor burning until we see significant, soaking rain across the state.”