Firefighters responded to a new wildfire start on Sunday evening near Lake Appalachia Dam in Cherokee County. The Hiwassee River Fire was reported in a steep area near the lake, on both US Forest Service and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) lands. As of this morning, the Hiwassee River Fire is estimated at 80 acres.

The fire is burning on US Forest Service property on the Nantahala National Forest Tusquitee Ranger District and on TVA lands surrounding Lake Appalachia. Firefighters worked late into the night Sunday to construct containment lines in steep terrain.

Today, firefighters will conduct burn out operations. Burn out operations help to contain the fire by consuming the unburned fuel between the active fire and the control lines. Approximately 14 firefighters from the US Forest Service are on scene today.

A helicopter will be used for reconnaissance of the fire area and other support as needed. While the cause of