Brasstown blaze second from cigarette in days
Fire chief warns that area is too dry
By Harrison Keely EDITOR

HARRISON KEELY/ Sentinel Photo UNDER CONTROL: Firefighter Donnie Thompson takes a break with retired Warne fire chief Jimmy Payne, who said he responded to the Brasstown fire to protect his home area.

A 10-acre forest fire put three structures in danger Thursday afternoon, June 26. The fire was the second local cigarette fire in a week, Brasstown volunteer fire department chief J.D. Robinson said.

 

The culprit cigarette was discarded from a car traveling along Old Hwy. 64 around 2 p.m., Robinson said. The blaze was extinguished around 5 p.m.

Eight members from the Brasstown and Warne fire departments responded to the blaze and three officers from the forest service were on hand. Robinson said that no property had been damaged.

"It's not a good time to burn," Robinson warned. "It's awful dry."

Last Friday another cigarette fire started along U.S. Hwy. 64 west.

Among those at the scene to contain the flames was retired Warne fire chief Jimmy Payne.

"I have to [respond to fires]; it's my home," he said.

E-mail Harrison at hkeely@ smokymountainsentinel.com.

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