Top Story Spotlight Wildfire in northern McDowell County burns 420 acres, now 50% contained Mike Conley Apr 1, 2026 8 hrs ago 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save As of Wednesday morning, the Jumping Branch Fire in northern McDowell County has burned 420 acres and is 50% contained.kAm~? (65?6D52J[ E96 }]r] u@C6DE $6CG:46 :DDF65 2? FA52E6 @? E96 7:C6 3FC?:?8 :? E96 vC2?572E96C #2?86C s:DEC:4E @7 E96 !:D829 }2E:@?2= u@C6DE] xE :D =@42E65 6:89E >:=6D ?@CE9H6DE @7 |2C:@?] p E@E2= @7 `fb A6CD@??6= 2C6 H@C<:?8 E@ 4@?E2:? E96 7:C6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 ?6HD C6=62D6 7C@> E96 7@C6DE D6CG:46]k^Am A K-Max helicopter is carrying a large bucket of water to the Jumping Branch Fire burning in northern McDowell County. PHOTO BY MATT SWITZER kAm%F6D52J’D DEC2E68:4 7:C:?8 @A6C2E:@?D :?4C62D65 4@?E2:?>6?E @? E96 H:=57:C6 E@ d_T] %96 24E:@?D C65F465 F?3FC?65 7@C6DE 7F6=D 7C@> E96 2C62 36EH66? 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(65?6D52J[ 7:C67:89E6CD H6C6 H@C<:?8 E@ 6IE:?8F:D9 9@E DA@ED ?62C E96 7:C6’D 6586 2?5 D64FC6 E96 A6C:>6E6C] p 5C@?6 H:E9 :?7C2C65 :>286CJ :D 96=A:?8 7:C67:89E6CD :56?E:7J 2C62D @7 962E ?62C E96 6586D @7 E96 7:C6] %96C6 2C6 DECF4EFC6D 2E C:D<[ D@ 4C6HD 2?5 6?8:?6D C6>2:? 24E:G6=J 6?82865[ E96 C6=62D6 D:25]k^Am People are also reading… Highway patrol: Juvenile killed in McDowell County wreck while driving electric bike One person critically injured in Sunday crash involving bicycle in McDowell County Marion man charged with death by distribution in 22-year-old's 2025 overdose death ‘No kings’ rally in downtown Marion draws more than 275 people, organizers say Marion woman charged with starting wildfire in northern McDowell County McDowell County Emergency Services Director Will Kehler to retire McDowell County women's powerlifter inducted into North Carolina hall of fame Firefighters battle blaze off Armstrong Creek Road in northern McDowell County Multiple departments responding to wildfire in Buck Creek section of McDowell County Marion, McDowell leaders seek public’s input on future of Drexel Heritage site Fire in Buck Creek section of McDowell still 175 acres Monday morning, 0% contained NC high school senior accepted to 90+ colleges, received $5.3 million in scholarship offers McDowell County man charged with abuse of child, adults with special needs McDowell County NC East Marion, Clinchfield, Stumptown homecoming to celebrate community Old Fort mayor suddenly resigns from office, mayor pro tem appointed acting mayor kAmp:C4C27E H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ DFAA@CE 8C@F?5 4C6HD 3J >@?:E@C:?8 AC@8C6DD 7C@> 23@G6 2?5 H:E9 H2E6C 2?5^@C DFAAC6DD2?E 5C@AD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 ?6HD C6=62D6]k^AmkAm#2:? :D 7@C642DE 7@C E96 86?6C2= 2C62[ 3FE :E :D F?=:<6=J E@ 36 6?@F89 E@ D:8?:7:42?E=J C65F46 E96 7:C6 C:D<] pD 5@H?65 3C2?496D 2?5 @E96C 962GJ 7@C6DE 7F6=D 4@?E:?F6 E@ 3FC? 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H@>2? 492C865 H:E9 DE2CE:?8 H:=57:C6 :? ?@CE96C? |4s@H6== r@F?EJQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>45@H6==?6HD]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^c`a2g57f\b_cc\c45f\hb`_\5ha62hfha2db^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmw:=2CJ qC@@<6 x?>2?[ bg[ @7 |2C:@?[ H2D 4:E65 2?5 492C865k^2m H:E9 DE2CE:?8 2 7:C6 FA@? 8C2DD=2?5[ 3CFD9=2?5 @C H@@5=2?5 H:E9@FE 7F==J 6IE:?8F:D9:?8 E96 D2>6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 AC6G:@FD DE@CJ 3J %96 |4s@H6== }6HD]k^Am kAmp E6>A@C2CJ 7=:89E C6DEC:4E:@? 92D 366? :>A=6>6?E65 @G6C E96 yF>A:?8 qC2?49 u:C6 2C62] u@C E96 D276EJ @7 7:C67:89E6CD 2?5 2G:2E:@? C6D@FC46D[ ?@ 5C@?6D @C 2:C4C27E 2C6 A6C>:EE65 :? E96 2C62] k^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mike Conley Staff Writer Author email Follow Mike Conley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Most Popular Highway patrol: Juvenile killed in McDowell County wreck while driving electric bike The driver of an electric bike was declared dead at the scene, according to highway patrol. One person critically injured in Sunday crash involving bicycle in McDowell County Upon arrival, crews found one patient with critical injuries. Paramedics took the person to Mission Hospital McDowell. Marion man charged with death by distribution in 22-year-old's 2025 overdose death An autopsy revealed the man died from toxic levels of fentanyl and cocaine in his system. ‘No kings’ rally in downtown Marion draws more than 275 people, organizers say “Folks are paying attention, and they’re ready to head to the polls in the midterms and vote for leadership that respects all Americans.” Marion woman charged with starting wildfire in northern McDowell County As of Tuesday morning, the fire is 185 acres in size and 20% contained. 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Mike Conley Staff Writer Author email Follow Mike Conley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Highway patrol: Juvenile killed in McDowell County wreck while driving electric bike The driver of an electric bike was declared dead at the scene, according to highway patrol.
One person critically injured in Sunday crash involving bicycle in McDowell County Upon arrival, crews found one patient with critical injuries. Paramedics took the person to Mission Hospital McDowell.
Marion man charged with death by distribution in 22-year-old's 2025 overdose death An autopsy revealed the man died from toxic levels of fentanyl and cocaine in his system.
‘No kings’ rally in downtown Marion draws more than 275 people, organizers say “Folks are paying attention, and they’re ready to head to the polls in the midterms and vote for leadership that respects all Americans.”
Marion woman charged with starting wildfire in northern McDowell County As of Tuesday morning, the fire is 185 acres in size and 20% contained.
AP Trump heads to Supreme Court, making him the first sitting president to attend top court's arguments
