Mitch Stone - reporter@highlandsnews.com
Highlands Fire and Rescue were alerted to a stump dump fire at the end of Wilson Gap Road at about 11:55 p.m. Dec. 31. After battling the fire for three days, crews left the scene around 3 a.m. Jan. 2, with the fire still smoldering but contained.
Due to the size of the fire, seven additional fire departments responded, including Rabun County Fire Service Stations 2 and 8, Cullasaja Gorge Fire and Rescue, Cowee Fire and Rescue, Sky Valley and Scaly Mountain Volunteer Fire Rescue Department, Franklin Fire and Rescue and Cashiers-Glenville Fire Department.
“The only thing we were somewhat worried about was the fire getting over into the national forest,” said Highlands Fire and Rescue Chief Ryan Gearhart. “Luckily, there were some firebreaks put in with a bulldozer, so that helped keep it to a very minimum.”
Gearhart said the fire was most likely caused by spontaneous combustion due to decomposing organic materials. As the materials break down, they produce internal heat and flammable gases, which can spark a fire.
Dealing with such a widespread fire required massive amounts of water, which posed a challenge for the crews.
“Water was an issue,” said Gearhart. “Getting that amount of water that was needed there and actually on the fire was pretty difficult.”
Crews used about one million gallons of water, with Highlands Fire and Rescue utilizing town hydrants and a Satolah Fire Department creek draft site on Walkingstick Road. Water initially helped suppress the fire, but due to its size and nature, crews transitioned to monitoring the smoldering.
“Instead of tying up a bunch of resources, fuel and people, we got to a point where we said ‘let’s pull out, let it do its thing and hopefully it burns itself out’,” said Gearhart.
No injuries or road closures were reported. After covering it with dirt, the fire remains in the smoldering stage as Highlands Fire and Rescue waits for it to burn out, which could take weeks.