Officials have determined the cause of a large brush fire in Henderson County and have identified the person they believe is responsible for starting the fire.
A press release from the North Carolina Forest Service says as of Thursday, Nov. 16, the Poplar Drive Fire in Edneyville remains 434 acres in size and is now 98% contained. The wildfire started Friday, Nov. 3. "The cause of the wildfire has been determined to be a debris burn that occurred on private property Thursday, Oct. 26., eight days earlier," the Forest Service said in its Thursday release. "Duff Swan, 51, of Maitland, Florida, was cited and charged with North Carolina General Statute 14-140.1."
The citation, "Certain fire to be guarded by watchman," states, in part, that anyone who starts a fire that then causes damage due to insufficient monitoring "shall be guilty of an infraction which may include a fine of not more than fifty dollars."