Wildfire in Burke County Contained at 5 Acres

A wildfire that broke out Sunday in southwestern Burke County grew to an estimated five acres before crews brought it under control, officials said.

The fire, referred to as the Roper Hollow / Roper Hairpin fire, was reported near 7458 Roper Hollow Road and was initially estimated at two acres. Aerial surveillance using a drone later showed the fire spread, burning in rugged mountain terrain.

Firefighters from multiple agencies across three counties responded under a unified command structure, working to contain the blaze and protect nearby structures.

By 4:30 p.m., officials said the fire was under control, with containment lines holding. Most water tankers assigned to the incident were released back into service, though crews remained on scene to monitor conditions and continue suppression efforts.

Responding agencies included the Brendletown Fire Department, the North Carolina Forest Service, the U.S. Forest Service and numerous local departments from Burke, McDowell and Rutherford counties, along with Burke EMS, Burke Rescue and Burke Emergency Management.

Authorities urged the public to avoid the area while crews continued operations in the area off Hwy 64 near South Mountain Game Lands. As of press time, the North Carolina wildfire public map shows total containment of the fire. The NASA FIRMS (fire information for resource management system) map did not list the fire.

No injuries or structural damage have been reported. The cause of the fire has not been released.