A brush fire that started the weekend of Oct. 7 had grown to an estimated 200-220 acres by midweek.
“This fire is stubborn,” said Jim Dale, assistant district forester for the Cumberland district. He was part of a response team of state forestry and state parks workers working to ensure the flames did not threaten the residential communities at the top and bottom of the mountain that jut from Roberts Mill Road. “But we are, too.
“Whatever we have to do to keep personnel on the fire, we’re going to do it until we get it contained.”
In total, 21 forestry service personnel and four state parks employees were engaged in the firefight last Wednesday as the drought covering the area persisted with little sign of relief.
Speculation abounded over whether the fire started on private property or the state-owned Cumberland Trail.
Dale said that, yet to his knowledge, the forestry division has not investigated the matter beyond identifying a camp fire as the likely cause.
Email David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com.
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