Dobson Knob fire is fought by at least 200 firefighters
MARION, N.C. (AP) — Forestry officials say they are scaling back on the number of firefighters working on a blaze in the mountains of western North Carolina.
Forestry officials told local media outlets Sunday that many of the 200 firefighters working on the Dobson Knob fire in McDowell County are wrapping up their operations since the blaze is about 96 percent contained.
The fire has burned nearly three square mile, about two-thirds of it in the Pisgah National Forest.
No injuries have been reported.
Fire personnel from the U.S. Forest Service, the North Carolina Forest Service and other agencies finished rehab work and were removing equipment Sunday.
The fire was reported April 9 on private property in the North Cove community north of Marion.
Officials say the fire was started by someone but have not said whether it was the work of an arsonist.
Trail closures are still in effect in the area, including part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail along the edge of the fire. The trail will be checked in coming days and repairs will be made as needed before the trail reopens to the public.
Officials said smoke from wildfires reported in the Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill areas Sunday came from fires in southeast Georgia, not the one in McDowell County.
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