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CALDWELL COUNTY — March 3, 1996, 5:45 p.m. EST Firefighters in Caldwell County are battling at least a dozen fires in Pisgah National Forest, one of the state's most popular retreats.
They believe the fires were intentionally set.
The largest fire broke out early Sunday morning in the forest, situated in the western part of the state. Federal and state forest workers are trying to contain the fires, but high winds and the lack of equipment are slowing their efforts.
Helicopters were brought in to help today, and weather forecasters are predicting that the winds will lessen.
The fires have consumed about 50 acres.
Pisgah National Forest was established in 1911 and covers 1.1 million acres over 12 North Carolina counties. It runs through portions of Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey Counties. It is crisscrossed with nature trails, and has facilities for mountain climbing, picnicking and other recreational uses
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