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Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Mandatory evacuations lifted for western North Carolina wildfires, as containment reaches at least 60 percent for Black Cove Complex
POLK COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – Firefighting crews made significant progress over the weekend on the Black Cove Complex fires in western North Carolina. The North Carolina Forest Service reported Monday that no mandatory evacuations are in place in Polk and Henderson counties, and the Fish Hook Fire is at 100% containment, while the two larger ones have reached at least 60 percent. Much-needed rain helps with the Table Rock Complex fire in South Carolina As areas and roads reopen, the department asks that residents drive slowly in these affected areas as crews are working along some of these lines, either on foot or with heavy equipment. Here is the latest data, as of Monday afternoon: Black Cove Fire, 2 miles northeast of Saluda 3,502 acres 93% Containment 0 Mandatory Evacuations Deep Woods Fire, 5 miles northwest of Columbus 3,969 acres 60% Containment 0 Mandatory Evacuation Fish Hook Fire, 5 miles northwest of Mill Spring 199 acres 100% Containment 0 Mandatory Evacuations Holbert Cove Road and Green River Cove Road are currently open to residents only. Drivers are asked to be mindful of emergency personnel in the area and near the roadways. The burn ban remains in effect for the state of North Carolina and Polk County. Please refrain from any burning activities until the ban is lifted. Individuals not abiding by the burn ban will be cited. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
WNC fires grow: Transylvania Co. issues state of emergency, high winds expected March 26
Two wildfires in Polk and Henderson county now cover nearly 6,000 acres in the Green River Gorge and as another fire in South Carolina has grown, Transylvania County has issued a countywide state of emergency. More than 50 fire departments and more than 300 personnel from North Carolina and other states are deployed on the ground to combat the Deep Woods Fire and the Black Cove Fire in the Green River Gorge. The two fires remain at 0% containment as fire activity remains "significant," the Polk County Office of Emergency Management said March 25. In South Carolina, the Table Rock Complex Fire has scorched 1,389 acres and is at 0% containment. Transylvania County, which borders Upstate South Carolina, issued a state of emergency on March 25 in response to the fire. N.C. Forest Service spokesperson E.J. Dwigans provided an update on the size of the fires in the Green River Gorge the evening of March 25. Black Cove Fire: 3,046 acres, 0% containment Deep Woods Fire: 2,923 acres, 0% containment Fish Hook Fire: 199 acres, 72% containment The two larger fires are burning on state-owned and private land in the Green River Gorge through steep terrain heavily impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. National Weather Service meteorologist Clay Chaney said the area experienced wind gusts between 25-35 mph on March 25, exacerbating firefighters' ability to respond to the fires. North Carolina is currently under a statewide burn ban. There is no chance of rain until "probably late Saturday night into Sunday," Chaney said. Wind gusts are expected to be between 20-25 mph on March 26, but will decrease March 27-28. In response to the Black Cove Fire in Polk County, evacuation orders have been issued for residents who live along Lady Slipper Trail, Big Hungry Road, Spurgeon Cove Lane, English Heifer Cove Road, Deer Trail, Scarlets Mountain Road and Green River Cove Road addresses from 1091-1528. In Henderson County, voluntary evacuation orders have been issued for Laurel Mountain View Road and Boulder View Road. In response to the Deep Woods Fire, evacuation orders have been issued for residents on Fox Paw Lane and from 5079-7265 Holberts Cove Road. In total, Polk County has issued 165 evacuation orders while Henderson County has issued 29. Polk County's shelter for wildfire evacuees is located at 75 Carmel Lane in Columbus. Henderson County's emergency shelter is at 708 South Grove St., Hendersonville. This story will be updated. Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@ Consider supporting this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: WNC wildfires grow in Polk, Henderson counties NC after high winds
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Evacuations ordered as wildfires burn in Helene-ravaged western North Carolina
Three wildfires in western North Carolina are proving challenging for firefighters to beat because of rough terrain and debris left behind by Hurricane Helene. The Black Cove, Deep Woods and Fish Hook fires continue burning in Polk County, an area devastated by Helene almost six months ago. The Black Cove Fire, which began on Wednesday and was started by a downed power line, has burned 1,239 acres and had no containment as of Sunday morning. Meanwhile, the Deep Woods Fire is the largest at 1,802 acres and also remains 0% contained. Evacuation orders are in place for several areas surrounding the Black Cove and Deep Woods fires, officials said. The Fish Hook Fire has burned 199 acres and is 50% contained. Officials said at least six structures have been lost in the fire. A burn ban is in effect throughout the state of North Carolina as low relative humidity levels create an increased fire danger through Sunday evening. Other wildfires have erupted over the past week: one in Wilkes County, another in Burke County and a third in Caldwell County. The Wilkes County fire, called the Old Highway 16 Fire, has burned 200 acres and is 50% contained. Video from the Wilkes County EMS on Facebook shows smoke rising up through the wooded hills from the Old Highway 16 Fire on Saturday afternoon. A "red" air quality alert was also issued for Polk County on Saturday. The North Carolina Forest Service alerted residents to not go outside for a prolonged period of article source: Evacuations ordered as wildfires burn in Helene-ravaged western North Carolina
