Clay County Fire and Rescue Responds to Unauthorized Burn, Structure Fire Call and Dozens of Emergencies

Clay County Fire and Rescue crews stayed busy over the past week, responding to a range of calls including unauthorized burning, a reported structure fire, and numerous medical emergencies.

A little after 11 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3, firefighters were dispatched to a fire along West Gumlog Road in the Warne Fire District. Upon arrival, crews found a large pile of debris burning. The property owner advised firefighters they had obtained a burn permit; however, an inspection of the fire revealed the pile consisted primarily of trash, including tires and rubber machine tracks.

Fire officials emphasized that North Carolina Forestry burn permits only allow the burning of natural vegetation. While a permit is required to burn more than 100 feet from a structure and not required within 100 feet, burning any type of trash, garbage, or non-vegetative material is illegal under all circumstances.

The following morning, Sunday, Jan. 4, at approximately 11:40 a.m., Clay County Fire and Rescue was dispatched to a reported residential structure fire on U.S. 64 East in the Hayesville Fire District. The resident reported smoke coming from a roof vent. Firefighters conducted a thorough search of the home, including the attic, but found no signs of active fire or hazardous conditions.

Fire officials say they encourage residents to call 911 anytime they suspect a fire, even if it turns out to be nothing. “We would rather respond to 100 false alarms than have someone wait because they think it’s nothing or believe they can handle it themselves,” officials said. They noted that fires can double in size every minute — and recent studies suggest that growth may occur in as little as 30 to 45 seconds — meaning a small fire can quickly become life-threatening.

For the period from Dec. 29 through Jan. 4, Clay County Fire and Rescue responded to a total of 45 calls for service. Those included 37 medical emergencies, two outside fire or smoke investigations related to unauthorized burning, two motor vehicle accidents, one fire alarm, one structure fire, and two public assistance calls.

Officials remind residents that fire and rescue crews are always ready to respond and urge the public to call immediately if there is any concern about fire or smoke.