Walnut Fire Department

06/04/2026

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our past board president, Gail Cook. As a proud supporter of our department, and the Walnut Community, Mrs. Cook was always willing to lend a hand. Our members, new and old, will miss her, and her stories about the memories made during the early years of our department.

Please keep her friends and family in your thoughts and prayers.

-Walnut Community VFD

https://www.mtnviewcremation.com/obituaries/Marlene-Gail-Cook?obId=48585082&fbclid=IwdGRjcASNs2xjbGNrBI2zaGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHjmgw-lmoKiNdkJrS09DePhMixCFzSL0ERhO-rIQGoXWCDVdmz4-7bd-8ACE_aem_V7IHRQAFMcOd8UPgmnjkkg

View Marlene Gail Wilson Cook's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

05/05/2026

Congratulations to Walnut Fire Department member Averey Jenkins on being recognized as the 2025 Madison County Telecommunicator of the year!

Whether Averey is answering 911 calls in a callers worst moment, or responding in the field with us at Walnut Fire Department, he is a vital asset to our community, and Madison County.

Due to inclement weather, our February Madison County Firefighters Association meeting was rescheduled, and we appreciate all of the committee members who kept this award under wraps until our May meeting!

Congrats Averey on a job well done!

05/04/2026

05/03/2026

NC Forest Service Burn Ban will be lifted at 8 a.m. Sunday, May 3rd, 2026 for our area.

Please continue to exercise caution while burning! We encourage all of our residents to follow our page, as well as N.C. Forest Service, in the event that conditions change. Continued drought conditions may necessitate another burn ban.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our Walnut Community safe!

-Walnut Fire Department

04/29/2026

We are grateful to see the rain, however, the NC Forest Service burn ban is still in effect! Please join us in your thoughts, prayers, or rain dances that conditions will continue to improve across our state, and region.

After weeks of dry, dusty weather and extreme fire conditions, members were excited to spend the evening checking over equipment, and cleaning apparatus. Members finished off the evening sharpening their drone skills.

Having such a dedicated group of volunteers is a true blessing to our community. Thank YOU Walnut Community for your support, and the opportunity to serve you!

04/14/2026

Since the state-issued ban on open burning was enacted March 28, a total of 554 wildfires has burned more than 2,200 acres across the state. With little rainfall or improvement expected over the next 7-10 days, the statewide burn ban and enforcement action will continue until further notice.

Of the 554 wildfires that have burned since the burn ban took effect, only four have been determined to be the result of lightning strikes. Preliminary data indicates that 152 of those 554 wildfires were determined to be human caused, with the remainder listed as unknown or undetermined, likely pending law enforcement investigation and action. Since the state’s burn ban took effect, 150 citations have been issued for illegal burning.

During a state-issued burn ban, the same N.C. Forest Service personnel providing initial and extended attack for wildfire response are providing the necessary enforcement action to support the ban on open burning. Reducing the number of new ignitions is critical for sustaining adequate resource availability for an extended period, making state-issued bans a necessary tool for keeping wildfires contained and as small as possible until fully extinguished.

The public is urged to abide by the burn ban and to use extreme caution with farm equipment, machines, mowers, vehicles on dry grass, smoking materials such as ci******es, anything that can throw a spark. In current high-risk conditions, these could be a possible fire source. While not classified as open burning and not affected by the state’s ban on open burning, they are still contributors to new fire starts across the state.

Read news release: https://www.ncagr.gov/news/press-releases/2026/04/14/statewide-burn-ban-and-enforcement-continue-dry-conditions-persist

04/13/2026

Final update on the Jack Branch Fire from the USFS.

04/11/2026

Jack Branch Fire update from the USFS.

National Forests in North Carolina Fire Update for April 11, 2026

Fire crews and aircraft responded to seven new fires with a total of 17 acres across the National Forests in North Carolina yesterday. Firefighters successfully held six of these fires to small sizes from a tenth of an acre to 1.5 acres. The Jack Branch Fire was the largest of the seven and more details are provided below. Dry conditions and fire danger remain very high across all of North Carolina.

Looking Glass Fire
Pisgah Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest
Location: 4 miles northwest of Pisgah Forest, North Carolina
Date Reported: April 7, 2026 Cause: Downed Powerline
Size: 30 acres Total Personnel: 30 Containment: 100%

The Looking Glass Fire has reached 100% containment as off April 11, 2026, thanks to the efforts of firefighters. Today, crews will continue to monitor the interior of the fire and potential existing pockets of heat. This will be the last update for this incident unless conditions change.

Reopening
Fish Hatchery Road (FSDR 475), Headwaters Road (FSDR 475B) and Looking Glass Trail have reopened. Please exercise caution when visiting the area. Firefighters and law enforcement continue to monitor the location of the fire.

Jack Branch Fire
Appalachian Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest
Location: 3 miles north of Hot Springs, North Carolina
Date Reported: April 10, 2026 Cause: under investigation
Size: 15 acres Containment: 70%

The USDA Forest Service responded yesterday, April 10, to the Jack Branch Fire, which ignited in the Cowbell Mountain area near the Tennessee state line just north of Hot Springs, North Carolina. The fire was observed as smoldering at higher elevation. Two Chinook helicopters performed aerial water drops, while crews responded on the ground to construct control lines, leading to 70% containment by evening.

Today, fire crews will continue extinguishing areas of heat to prevent fire spread and continue working to increase containment. Aircraft are available if needed for water drops.

Weather
The weather forecast calls a high of 75 degrees, with critically low relative humidity levels and light winds out of the northwest this morning and the north this evening.

For wildfire updates follow the National Forests in North Carolina on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nfsnc

Burned ground alongside the Looking Glass Rock Trail - photo by Dana Hodde

04/11/2026

This afternoon, Walnut Fire Department and our mutual aid partners at Country Fire Department were requested to assist with UTV's on the Jack Branch Fire, near the NC/TN border. NC Forest Service was part of the initial response to this incident, and performed an outstanding job, serving as our liaison between fire departments and the US Forest Service.

Both of our departments were tasked with transporting hand crews and equipment to the remote fire. Meanwhile, multiple helicopters assisted with aerial water drops to calm fire behavior, and reduce fire growth until additional hand crews arrived. Hand crews from across the United States, as well as local agencies, are currently on scene, thanks to strategic placement of resources on the State, and National levels.

Heading into the wilderness, nestled along the border of the Pisgah National Forest, and Cherokee National Forest, crews had to travel nearly 10 miles from the nearest road to reach the fire line. Please keep our friends at the US Forest Service in your thoughts and prayers as they remain on this fire, and continue with their operations in the coming days. Avoid the River Road area of Hot Springs near Murray's Branch, and allow these crews to work safely.

Remember, the statewide burn ban is still in place across North Carolina! Dry conditions are expected to persist for the foreseeable future. Do your part to keep our Walnut Community safe!

-Walnut Fire Department

04/10/2026

Jack Branch Fire
Fire personnel and aircraft are responding to the Jack Branch Fire on the Appalachian Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest. The Jack Branch Fire is estimated to be 10 acres in size and is located approximately 3 miles north of Hot Springs, North Carolina in the Bellcow Mountain area near the Tennessee state line.

Two large water dropping helicopters have been dispatched to the fire for water drops. Fire crews on the ground have also responded to help direct water drops and the fire suppression response.

For public and firefighter safety, please stay away from the fire area and give the helicopters plenty of room to get water from the French Broad River.