Firefighters made noteworthy progress Wednesday evening in managing two of the largest wildfires burning across the scenic North Carolina mountains. However, officials cautioned that the risk of fire remains high due to ongoing dry and windy conditions.
The situation is more dire in South Carolina, as two separate fires nearly doubled in size on Wednesday. Thankfully, firefighting crews have successfully kept the flames from reaching residential areas and other critical structures.
In both North Carolina and South Carolina, hundreds of residents have been required to evacuate their homes due to about half a dozen large fires blazing in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The fires have generated plumes of smoke drifting as far as Greenville. A proliferation of fallen trees left by September’s Hurricane Helene is providing an abundance of fuel for the fires while also complicating access to vital logging roads and pathways for firefighters.
On Wednesday night, the North Carolina Forest Service reported that the containment of the Black Cove Fire and the Deep Woods Fire exceeded 10%, after reporting no containment in previous days. These fires have ravaged nearly ten square miles (26 square kilometers) collectively, yet the area impacted has largely remained the same since the previous day.
Approximately 250 homes located in Polk County, the center of the fires, have been evacuated. Unfortunately, around two dozen homes and outbuildings in the area have been destroyed, according to spokesperson Kellie Cannon. Despite these losses, firefighters have managed to protect most structures close to the fires. Only one injury has been reported, involving a firefighter who suffered a leg injury after getting caught under a tree in North Carolina.
Forecasts offer little relief, as meteorologists anticipate some rain over the weekend, but not enough of a downpour to extinguish the fires. “Hopefully that will at least calm things down briefly,” meteorologist Ashley Rehnberg remarked. The forecast suggests there won’t be any extreme weather days as dangerous as those experienced in Los Angeles in January or Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in 2016, providing some hope.
The forestry services in North Carolina and South Carolina are starting to strategize how to rotate firefighting teams in and out of the mountainous areas, in preparation for what is expected to be a prolonged battle. “Burn bans are in place, and people need to follow them,” Rehnberg stressed. Even if the rain does come, weather conditions are likely to continue posing challenges.
Fire updates from South Carolina highlight that the first set of evacuations occurred Tuesday night, with more following throughout Wednesday. At this point, a larger fire inside Table Rock State Park in Pickens County has covered 7.1 square miles (18.4 square kilometers), and another fire at Persimmon Ridge in Greenville County has burned 2.4 square miles (6.2 square kilometers). These fires likely grew even more by Wednesday afternoon, as reported by air assessments.
Around 250 homes are in the evacuation zone within Pickens County, with further residences at risk in nearby Greenville County. Given the significant winds affecting the area, authorities opted to evacuate the area situated between the two fires.
The dry weather conditions in North Carolina spurred several new fires on Wednesday, pushing Gov. Josh Stein to declare a state of emergency throughout 34 western counties. A minimum of nine active fires were reported in this region. “Our State Emergency Response Team is responding with every tool at its disposal. Please stay safe and stay alert for any evacuation orders if the fires spread to an area near you,” the governor stated. Late on Tuesday, a new wildfire ignited near Bryson City, in far western North Carolina, prompting authorities to evacuate dozens as the fire expanded to nearly one square mile (1.6 square kilometers).
Calls for caution have been issued as many of the fires in South Carolina are the result of human actions. Authorities, from local fire chiefs to the state governor, are urging the public to adhere to burn bans and refrain from lighting fires at campsites or when burning refuse. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster remarked, “We have people going out in the woods and in their backyards and starting fires when the wind is blowing and everything is dry. We just have to use common sense. People get out in nature and they forget how dangerous it can be.”