CLAYTON - The battle rages on against the Rock Mountain wildfire in Rabun County.
According to an informational release received from the U.S. Forest Service late Saturday morning the size of the blaze had grown to 19,194-acres.
Pacific North West Incident Commander Noel Livingston reported that 563 personnel were engaged in the defensive effort, as well as seven helicopters.
Livingston says the fire is currently 40-percent contained.
He provided the following evacuation and closure data:
Evacuations:
Rabun County
- Pre-evacuation for Patterson Gap north of Ramah Darom Church Camp
- Pre-evacuation of all roads at Bettys Creek, north of Tom Wilson Rd to the state line; this includes Messer Creek Rd, Hambidge Ct, High Darnell Rd, Bryes Place Ln, Towns County - Call 706-896-7460 for further information
Closures:
- Charlies Creek Road, off Tallulah River Road.
- Tallulah River Road (Forest Service Road 70).
- The Appalachian Trail between Dicks Creek Gap, Georgia, to Rock Gap, North Carolina
- An area closure has been issued for the Nantahala wilderness area
- Patterson Gap Road from Betty's Creek Road to Poplar Gap (USFS road)
- Betty's Creek Road from Patterson Gap to the North Carolina state line (Rabun County)
- Mulberry from the North Carolina state line to Pagonia Drive/Beasley Gap (Macon County)
