News

Cause of Howard Gap Road fire identified

By Amy McCraw, Published: April 22, 2026

Investigators determined that an improper campsite led to a recent brush fire that burned eight acres off Howard Gap Road, Henderson County’s Fire Marshal Glen Gillette said Wednesday.

The fire began on Friday in a wooded area near Howard Gap Road’s intersection with U.S. 64 East and Ebenezer Baptist Church. It was fully contained on Sunday after crews from several Henderson County fire departments and the N.C. Forest Service responded to the blaze.
Gillette said investigators determined “camping activities” in a vacant lot not designated for camping led to the brush fire. No responsible person has been identified in the incident and no citations have been issued, he said.
Ongoing dry conditions and the significant number of trees downed by Hurricane Helene, known as blow-down remain a concern for firefighters, Gillette said. The blow-down increases the difficulty and risks for firefighters as they battle fires in wooded areas such as the one off Howard Gap Road.
“I’ve got significant concerns,” Gillette said. “The conditions are right for fires. This is going to be an ongoing issue.”
Debris and the blow-down left from Helene will probably increase the risk for wildfires in the area for the next 10 years, he said.
The N.C. Forest Service issued the ban on all open burning on March 28 and canceled all burning permits statewide until further notice.
Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning statewide, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of any new permits has also been suspended until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire. The burn ban does not apply to fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The local fire marshal has authority to issue a burn ban within those 100 feet.