WNC wildfire blamed on 'improperly discarded smoking material,' woman charged

Woman accused of starting 420-acre wildfire in North Carolina mountains

The fire was sparked in McDowell County.

Woman accused of sparking wildfire in western NC

Officials have charged a woman for starting a fire which has so far burned more than 180 acres of woodland in western North Carolina.

Woman charged with starting wildfire burning in McDowell County

According to the North Carolina Forest Service, the Jumping Branch fire, which is 275 acres in size and 30% contained as of Tuesday, was started by "improperly discarded smoking material."

WNC wildfire blamed on 'improperly discarded smoking material,' woman charged

Drivers asked to avoid NC-80 in Buck Creek area

North Carolina woman charged with starting Jumping Branch fires

Criminal charges filed against a North Carolina woman involved in a wildfire investigation shows how dangerously dry forest conditions can produce catastrophic damage. A day after the state imposed a burn ban, McDowell County resident Hilary Brooke Inman, 38, is accused of discarding smoking material on the ground, triggering the Jumping Branch wildfire that has charred more than 180 acres. At last check, forestry officials said that the wildfir…