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Black Mountain fire chief calls for aggressive enforcement, community action ahead of wildfire season
Summary
Fire Chief John Coffey told the Town Council that Black Mountain faces elevated wildfire risk after Hurricane Helene and urged stronger code enforcement, public education and tactical readiness including a town “Fire Ready” campaign and neighborhood ambassadors.
Fire Chief John Coffey told the Black Mountain Town Council on Aug. 11 that the approaching wildfire season presents a "serious and escalating threat" to the town and that "the time to act is now." He briefed council members on maps and local conditions showing steep terrain, dense tree cover and downed timber from Hurricane Helene that have increased fuels and complicated evacuation and emergency response.
Coffey said the town sits in a wildland–urban interface where narrow roads and uphill fire behavior raise risks to structures. He described three pillars for reducing that risk: enforcing the fire code, public education and improving tactical readiness. "Prevention is the most powerful tool that we have," Coffey said, urging residents to clear gutters, trim trees and…
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