Polk Co. wildfires approaching 5,000 acres, evacuations remain in place
POLK COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) – Three wildfires continue to burn Monday across a large portion of western Polk County with little containment.
The Black Cove, Deep Woods, and Fish Hook fires have burned a combined 4,800 acres as of Monday morning.
Black Cove Fire
Deep Woods Fire
Fish Hook Fire
The Black Cove Fire has burned just over 2,000 acres and is 0% contained. The fire is burning just west of the Green River north of Interstate 26.
Several evacuations remain in effect for the Black Cove fire, including areas between 1091 and 1528 Green River Cove Road.
All properties on Lady Slipper Trail, Big Hungry Road, Spurgeon Cove Lane, English Heifer Cove, Deer Trail, and Scarlets Mountain Road are also under the evacuation order.
Officials said the fire is burning toward Henderson County.
The North Carolina Forest Service said there are voluntary evacuations for residents on Laurel Mountain View Road and Boulder View Road in Henderson County.
The Deep Woods Fire, located on the east side of the Green River just northeast of the Black Cove Fire, has burned more than 2,500 acres. That fire is also 0% contained.
The NC Forest Service said the fire is burning on state-owned and private land in the Green River Gorge and the Holbert Cove community around five miles northwest of Columbus.
Evacuations are in place for for north side of 5079 to 7625 Holbert Cove Road and all of Fox Paw Lane.
The smallest fire, the Fish Hook Fire, has burned close to 200 acres but is now 50% contained.
Fish Hook Fire has no active evacuations.
The fire is burning on private land near Lake Adger, around five miles northwest of Mill Spring.
Firefighting efforts are focused on the Black Cove and Deep Woods fires, the two largest in the county.
Officials said the fires are located in an area devastated by Hurricane Helene.
'Access is continually an issue for us,' said EJ Dwigans with the North Carolina Forest Service. '[We are] having to work our way through downed trees and debris just to get where these fires are because they are burning in very remote areas but a lot of these roads and accesses are very tight, one way in, one way out.'
Officials are asking the public not to impede on their efforts.
'What we are trying to do is to keep as many spectators out as possible,' said Polk County Sheriff Tim Wright. 'We have a lot of people wanting to come in to take photos. We need to try to keep those individuals out so we can provide safety and security and let the emergency service personnel get to where they need to be.'
The sheriff's office said they have also increased patrols in the evacuation areas as a precaution.
There are currently 263 personnel from North Carolina and other states working to fight the fires.
Light rain moved through the area Monday morning bringing less than a tenth of an inch of precipitation to the area.
A Red Cross Shelter has been set up at 75 Carmel Lane in Columbus for those in the evacuation area.
No pets are allowed in the shelter but if residents need help with animal boarding, they are asked to contact Polk County Animal Control at 828-817-7984.
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