Damaging Wildfires
The trees that Helene took down have fueled these fires.
Exactly six months ago today, Hurricane Helene devastated our communities in western North Carolina with catastrophic flooding, taking many lives and shifting the earth beneath us.
Now our region faces multiple wildfires fueled by dry conditions, high winds, and the millions of trees Helene left strewn across our landscape. Fire is jumping rivers. Bridges that were rebuilt have been burned. Six months ago we joked that we didn’t want to see rain again. Now we are praying for rain.
The fires, which began in Polk County, have now spread into Henderson County. Over 300 firefighting personnel are battling the wildfire.
Officials in Rutherford County have issued an immediate evacuation notice for residents along South Winds Drive and Davenport Road in Rutherfordton due to rapidly developing fire in the area. An emergency shelter has been established at First Presbyterian Church in Rutherfordton.
The Black Cove Complex in Polk County has become the highest priority fire in the US, with nearly 6,400 acres consumed by the fire. The Freedom Farm Fire in Leicester (Dix Creek area) has spread to more than 80 acres. It is 0% contained.
This map shows the evacuation zones in Polk and Henderson counties. Residents in green areas are being told of possible evacuations. Residents in yellow areas are being told an evacuation is imminent. Residents in red areas are to evacuate immediately.
Gov. Josh Stein issued a State of Emergency for the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey. It also includes the tribal lands held by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Officials issued an evacuation order for the Summer Haven community in Henderson County. This includes Macedonia Road east of Interstate 26, Skyland Acres Road, Knight Road, Summer Haven Lane, and S. Fine Way.
In Henderson County, a shelter is open at the Henderson County Parks & Recreation Athletics and Activities Center at 708 South Grove Street in Hendersonville.
A statewide ban on all open burning is currently in effect. The ban applies to all 100 counties and cancels all existing burning permits. Under North Carolina law, violators face a $100 fine plus $183 in court costs. Additionally, individuals responsible for setting fires may be held liable for expenses related to extinguishing them.
Please be prepared for emergency notifications, or possible evacuations, and avoid outdoor burning of any kind. If you’re in Buncombe County, text BCAlert to 99411 to receive emergency alerts.
For additional news, please visit www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/fires-in-polk-county-north-carolina-burn-ban/275-4038bfbb-53b0-4b03-bdfb-521cb95da9a7.
