This story was originally published on Oct. 30 and updated Oct. 31 and Nov. 2.
A fire just south of Andrews in Cherokee County has spread across 75 acres.
On Nov. 2, officials shared that the fire now reaches across 90 acres and is still zero percent contained.
There are currently no road or area closures currently. However, the public is advised to avoid the area so firefighters can work safely.
“The safety of our firefighters and the public is our first priority,” Acting District Ranger for the Cheoah-Tusquitee Ranger District David Ilse said in a press release. “We are using aerial resources and are working to place crews safely on the ground.”
Firefighters are working to prepare structures in communities near the Collett Ridge fire so that they will not be damaged by the fire, according to a press release by the National Forest Service.
A 20-person hand crew, 5 fire engines, 2 helicopters, and air resources have been working around the clock to stop since it started on Oct. 23. The fire is 0 percent contained but the acreage of the fire has changed as it moved and more precise mapping was used. When the fire started, officials said it was 90 acres, but it decreased to 59 acres after infrared maps more clearly outlined the fire area. The fire had spread to its 75-acre coverage on Oct. 31.
Crews are constructing containments lines that are free of leaves and debris around the homes and buildings with bulldozers and tools.
On Oct. 29, the fire expanded west towards Flat Branch and Collett Creek. Smoke was visible along Highway 74 due to the dry fuels of leaf litter on the ground.
There is little movement of the fire and no structures have been threatened, according to the press release. There have not been any injuries on the job.
On Oct. 30, Operations Section Chief Chad Cook explained that while the fire is still spread across 75-acres all structures in the area are secure.
"We are not going to have to worry about them in the long run," Cook said in a video update.
He said the fire was held in the valley with air crafts to allow hand crews the time secure the private residences in the area.
Crews were able to go up Collett Creek Rd. into the Living Waters subdivision to put in a containment line there from a nearby creek as well as create containment lines along Bolden Branch Rd and Lords Way.
He expects the smoke to decrease today but said that the fire is still expected to move in the next few days after rain moves through the area.
The low humidity and forecasted cold temperatures will actually make it easier for the fire to spread, Cook said.
"[The forecast] will actually help cure the leaves and then we expect reburn potential here. Then we expect the fire to start slowly moving again," he said.
Cook said the forecasted wind will continue to keep the fire away from homes and east toward White Oak Knob.
He doesn't expect much movement for the fire over the next three to four days.
Updates on the fire will be posted on the Forest Service page here.
