FALLS DAM

active fire

Wildfire

ACRES BURNED

505

STATE

North Carolina

ORIGIN COUNTY
Montgomery
containment

94%

This fire is stale

This incident has not been updated in more than three days. Data may be inaccurate.

Active Hotspots

Active Hotspots are heat signatures detected by satellites within the last 24 hours.

  • Most locations are covered at least every 3-5 hours.
  • Some hotspots may be unrelated to wildfires.

Active Hotspots (0)

on

off

Recent Hotspots

Recent Hotspots are heat signatures detected by satellites within the last 7 days.

  • Most locations were covered at least every 4-6 hours.
  • Does not include last 24 hours.

Recent Hotspots (0)

on

off

Flame Animation

Flame Animations are visual depictions of flame behavior based on known data.

  • Wind data from National Weather Service.
  • Some flames depicted may be unrelated to wildfires.

Flame Animation

on

off

35.3992239461429, -80.0716200204777

{D7924AB7-96EB-477F-A8C1-560C725FFE09}

2025-03-01

TIMELINE

8 days

March 1

Detected

March 10

LAST UPDATED
Wind Dynamics

first 2 will be pulled from the fire automatically.

Can have dynamic values. Ie > Higher wind value raises directional randomness value.

Time Scale

Inherent speed (at zero wind). Controls the overall speed of the simulation, affecting how quickly particles move and update.

3.5x

Wind Speed

Controls the velocity of particle movement, simulating how wind speed affects ember and heat plume transport.

11mph

Wind Direction

The prevailing direction of the wind as provided by the closest NWS weather station, expressed in degrees.

N(0)E(90)S(180)W(270) 0degrees

Directional Randomness

Simulates turbulence and local wind variations by adding random fluctuations to particle trajectories, similar to fire-induced wind eddies.

12%
Particle Dynamics

Can also have dynamic values. Ie > Higher wind reduces scale decay. Or Higher acreage increases. More than 30 hotspots increases particle lifespan. Etc.

Particle Lifespan

Determines how long each heat visualization element persists, analogous to the duration of visible thermal signatures in infrared imagery.

30frames

Particle Density

Controls the concentration of visualization elements within each burst, similar to the density of detected thermal signatures in a given area.

20%

Particle Scale Decay

Determines how quickly particles diminish in size over their lifespan, representing the cooling and dissipation of thermal signatures.

60%

Particle Scale Variation

Controls the range of initial particle sizes, simulating the variation in intensity of thermal signatures across a detection area.

80%
Burst/Emitter Dynamics

(⛔️ Some of these aren't totally working.). Controls the detailed behavior of fire particle emission patterns.

Burst Frequency

Sets how often new groups of particles are emitted, simulating the pulsing nature of thermal plumes and intermittent fire behavior.

2per sec

Particles Per Burst

Determines the number of thermal signatures released in each emission event, representing the intensity of individual heat releases.

3

Burst Duration

Controls how long each emission event lasts, analogous to the duration of individual thermal pulses in fire behavior.

0.3sec

Gap Between Bursts

Sets the cooling or rest period between emission events, representing the cyclical nature of fire intensity fluctuations.

0.2sec

Burst Length Variation

Adds randomness to the duration of each burst, simulating the natural variability in fire behavior and thermal signature patterns.

50%
Incident Data

CAUSE

Human

BEHAVIOR
Minimal
Nearest CITY
Troy

PRIMARY FUEL TYPE?
Timber (Grass and Understory)


Description

East of Badin Lake

Response

Lead Protecting AGENCY

USFS

TOTAL PERSONNEL

20

DISPATCH CENTER
North Carolina Interagency Coordination Center
PROPERTY OWNERSHIP

Federal
(USFS)

WEATHER

Nearby Air Quality
AQI

*

35.3992239461429, -80.0716200204777

* mph at * degs.

forecast

From the Web

External data is not official

Information pulled “from the web” is compiled from sources that include non-official data, and is not confirmed by a human reviewer.



1. Start Time & Info

**Start Date/Time/Location** The exact start date and time of the Falls Dam Fire are not specified, but it is part of the multiple wildfires that crews have been responding to since the beginning of March 2025 in the Uwharrie National Forest in Montgomery County, North Carolina, east of Badin Lake[1][3][5]. **Size and Containment** As of March 6, 2025, the Falls Dam Fire has burned approximately 505 acres and is 85% contained[1][3][5]. **Growth and Rate of Spread** Initially reported as a smaller fire, it has grown significantly due to high winds and low humidity. However, containment efforts have been successful in slowing its spread. The fire has been fueled by unseasonably warm weather and dry conditions[1][3][5]. **Containment Efforts** Firefighters are constructing new fire lines and improving existing ones, using roads and natural terrain features as barriers to fire spread. Federal and local fire crews, including the U.S. Forest Service, are involved in the containment efforts[1][3].

2. Evacuations & Closures

**Mandatory Evacuation Orders** There are no specific mandatory evacuation orders mentioned for the Falls Dam Fire. However, wildfires in the broader area have caused evacuations in nearby towns such as Tryon and Saluda, which are about 40 miles south of Asheville, due to other fires in national forests[3][4]. **Evacuation Warnings** There are no specific evacuation warnings mentioned for the Falls Dam Fire, but residents and visitors are urged to be cautious and check burn bans and fire restrictions[1][3]. **Road Closures** While there are road closures in the area due to wildfires, specific road closures directly related to the Falls Dam Fire are not detailed. However, closures such as Catheys Creek Road in the Pisgah National Forest and Avery Creek Road due to storm damages are noted in the broader area[3][5]. **For more information, visit:** - [USDA Forest Service Alerts and Warnings]: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/news-events/ - [National Forests in North Carolina on Facebook]: https://www.facebook.com/nfsnc - [USDA Forest Service Incident Updates]: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/nfsnc/alerts-notices

3. Current Impact

**Injuries and Fatalities** There are no reported fatalities or injuries directly attributed to the Falls Dam Fire[1][3][5]. **Structures Impacted** There is no detailed information on structures damaged or destroyed specifically by the Falls Dam Fire. However, wildfires in the broader area have threatened several structures, particularly in the towns of Tryon and Saluda[3][4]. **Power Outages** There is no specific information on power outages directly related to the Falls Dam Fire, but power lines have been affected in other nearby fires[3]. **Notable Impacts** The fire has impacted the local environment and air quality, with smoke affecting nearby communities and roadways, especially during morning and evening commutes[1][3].

4. Current Outlook

**Containment Projections** With the fire at 85% containment, efforts are ongoing to fully contain the fire. Forecasted precipitation and higher humidity levels are expected to moderate fire behavior later in the week, aiding in containment efforts[1][3]. **Weather and Wind Warnings** An elevated fire danger continues due to gusting winds and low humidity levels ahead of incoming storms. However, the weather is expected to improve with forecasted precipitation, which should help in moderating the fire's behavior[1][3].

5. Weather info

**Cause** The cause of the Falls Dam Fire is currently under investigation[1][3][5]. **Weather and Climate** The fire is being fueled by unseasonably warm weather and dry conditions. High winds and low humidity have contributed to the fire's spread. The region is experiencing a period of elevated fire risk due to these weather conditions, but forecasted precipitation is expected to help mitigate the fire's behavior[1][3][5].

Citations

['https://fires.cornea.is/fire/falls-dam/', 'https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf', 'https://newbernnow.com/2025/03/crews-battle-several-wildfires-in-north-carolina.html', 'https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn', 'https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/nfsnc/alerts-notices/?aid=93549']

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