Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for the Cherokee National Forest Begin Friday

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for the Cherokee National Forest begin Friday

USDA Forest Service officials will initiate Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on the Cherokee National Forest beginning Friday, April 24, 2026 in response to extreme fire danger due to prolonged drought. The restrictions will prohibit fires outside of developed recreation sites. Effective April 24, 2026, the following fire restrictions are in place for the entire Cherokee National Forest until terminated by the Forest Service: Building, maintaining, at…

Federal agency imposes fire restrictions in Cherokee National Forest

Forecasters are predicting rain for this weekend but the USDA Forest Service is being proactive with Stage 1 fire restrictions through the four-state region of the entire Cherokee National Forest until further notice beginning Friday. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire outside of developed recreation sites is prohibited, according to the agency. The district currently has a wildfire stretching across 650 acres near the …