http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

v 2.4.3.0

No measurable rainfall has occurred since 10/22. Through November 16th, residents of western North Carolina haven't seen a Code Green air quality rating for 12 days. Most of the Appalachian trail here is closed. On Thursday the 17th, Mike Dueitt, Incident Commander [U.S.F.S.], noted that the forest service will have a presence in the region to monitor the 20 active fires likely into the spring. As of Sunday the 13th, all of the fires burning in WNC topped 24,929 acres. There were 20 crews, six helicopters, 50 engines, 10 dozers, four water tenders, and 757 personnel working around the clock to contain the blazes. They have a containment line around the entire fire which equates to about 42 miles. "This region hasn't seen anything like this since a fire that burned around 10,000 acres in 1952," said Dueitt. Crews from 42 states have been fighting the fires. They have worked to protect 500-600 homes, and only one structure, a dilapidated building, had been lost. Only four injuries have been recorded in conjunction with the firefighting effort, and they have been minor. CoCoRaHS Report from Station #Franklin 3.4 ESE on 11/20/2016