When Apollo learned of the wildfires burning on the Cherokee Indian Reservation in Jackson County, NC, he quickly grabbed his gear and sprang out the door for a closer look. According to news reports, the fire started from embers of a mobile home fire that spread to the forest. Over 1,000 acres have burned, but thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Apollo drove the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville to Cherokee on a clear night. When he reached mile 460 on the Parkway, he started smelling smoke and visibility was quite hazy. He knew the fires were nearby.
Apollo watches the side of a mountain burning from an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Supposedly, the Parkway is now closed due to smoke.
Apollo tried to get closer to the fires. Here, he watches another fire burning from the KOA Campground in Cherokee, NC.
It's amazing how quickly and easily fire can spread. Many smaller, more contained fires openly burn along the roadside. Some of these seemed miles off from the larger fires.
According to a very nice Native American man from the Cherokee Water Department, the fire department decided to let the fires extinguish naturally and just wait for the rain to come.
Apollo spent the entire night climbing around looking for fire action, at the risk of being totally freaking melted.
Perhaps the scariest moment in Apollo's life came when this burning tree tumbled town a rock face and came within inches of crushing him. Dying on the Green River Narrows was rough, but being pinned by a huge tree and subsequently burned alive just didn't sound cool.
After being nearly charred and squashed to death, Apollo pays homage to Smokey the Bear and his shovel.
On the way home, Apollo couldn't help snap a quick shot of the huge ass Indian statue outside the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. This impressive work of art is carved out of a solid chunk of Redwood.
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