Rocky Flats Declared Wildfire

The 2023 Rocky Flats Prescribed Fire on the Conasauga Ranger District of the Chattahoochee- Oconee National Forest was a 73-acre blackline operation planned for Tuesday, March 21, 2023.  Numerous spot fires originated during the blackline operation, which grew to 173 acres outside of the burn unit, and by early afternoon required nearly all resources to engage in suppression of the spot fires.
Resources were released for safety reasons and fatigue early the morning of Wednesday, March 22, 2023. The strong winds that had fueled the spot fires in the evening, also brought an early morning downpour of rain that essentially contained the fire. Spot fires only occurred on National Forest System lands. There were no injuries, and no structures or equipment were lost. After considerable deliberation, the Forest Supervisor determined that the prescribed fire needed to be declared a wildfire.