Western NC wildfires live updates Friday, March 28: See the latest from around the region
Multiple wildfires continue to burn in Western North Carolina and the South Carolina Upstate Friday, March 28, some entering their second weeks of blaze.
Thousands of acres have burned, and hundreds of firefighters from across the country are battling the wildfires around the clock. Evacuations have been ordered. Some homes have been destroyed. Only one injury has been reported.
The largest fire in the region is the Table Rock Fire in Pickens County, South Carolina, which crossed the state line into Transylvania County in North Carolina on Thursday, March 27. In North Carolina, large wildfires are burning in Polk County, the Deep Woods and Black Cove fires; Swain County, the Alarka Fire; and Haywood County, the Rattlesnake Branch Fire.
Weather conditions Friday are prime for fire growth and additional fires. Burn bans are in effect across all of North Carolina and South Carolina. Air quality is poor in many North Carolina counties.
The Asheville Citizen Times has reporters and photographers covering the fires Friday, and we'll bring you live updates on conditions throughout Friday.
For more information on the fires and for a picture of how conditions have been developing, take a look at our live coverage from Thursday, March 27, and Wednesday, March 26. Also, our interactive fire map is updated hourly and has information about the size of the fires, where they are and more.
Reporter Jacob Biba sent this in:
During a March 28 morning news conference, Transylvania County Manager Jamie Laughter said the fire line of the Table Rock Fire is primarily located along the state border with South Carolina, with a spot fire reported at Busted Rock. All the fire activity is limited to state forest, Laughter said, and the closet fire is approximately half a mile from any structure. More evacuations may be ordered, she said. Local fire crews are still working on structure protection activities, and weather is not favorable, officials said. So far, there is no known damage to structures or reported injuries.
The Black Cove Complex fires in Polk and Henderson counties consist of three fires, the Black Cove Fire, Deep Woods Fire and the Fish Hook Fire. As the most critical fire situation the the country, 500 firefighting personnel from North Carolina and across the country are working to control the fires, according to a Friday, March 28, news release from the N.C. Forest Service.
Here are some details from the Forest Service:
Black Cove Fire: Currently, the Black Cove Fire is 3,288 acres in size and 17% contained. The fire is burning in timber on state-owned and private land, approximately 2 miles northeast of Saluda, in the Green River Gorge.
The southwest portion of Black Cove remains a priority to secure the fire perimeter and protect homes within the Skyland Acres area. Strategic firing operations continued throughout the night to remove unburned fuels between containment lines and fire area around the Skyland Acres area. Due to the high relative humidity recovery last night, firing operations had minimal fire activity which led to a safe and slow burn which concluded at 3 a.m.
The Black Cove Fire was first reported Wednesday, March 19. The cause of this fire was determined to be a downed powerline.
Deep Woods Fire: Currently, the Deep Woods Fire is 3,373 acres in size and 30% contained. The fire is burning approximately 5 miles northwest of Columbus in timber on state-owned and private land in the Green River Gorge and in the neighboring Holbert Cove community.
A combination of bulldozer and hand lines were utilized on the southeastern portion of the fire close to the Green River. By utilizing the containment lines, firefighters were able to complete successful strategic firing operations to protect homes close to Green River Road. The purpose of the firing operation is to bring strategic and slow-moving fire within the unburned fuels with the lower temperatures and elevated humidity levels overnight. A combination of wildland firefighters and structural firefighters were present throughout the night to ensure firing operations were safe and successful. Firefighters throughout the day shift will hold and strengthen this line.
The Deep Woods Fire was first reported Wednesday, March 19. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Fish Hook Fire: Currently, the Fish Hook Fire is 199 acres in size and 95% contained. The fire is burning approximately 5 miles northwest of Mill Spring on private land near Lake Adger. Containment is expected to increase in the coming days, and firefighters will remain on scene until the fire no longer poses a threat.
The Fish Hook fire was first reported Thursday, March 20. The cause of this fire was determined to be a downed powerline.
Headwaters State Forest is closed in southern Transylvania County, according to a Friday, March 28, Facebook post from the N.C. Forest Service.
Here's the statement:
Due to wildfires in the area, N.C. Forest Service officials have implemented a full public closure for Headwaters State Forest. This closure is necessary in the interest of public safety and to ensure wildland firefighters and personnel have safe access for response. This full public closure will remain in effect until further notice.
Reporter Allison Kiehl provided a roundup of air quality alerts, and things are not looking good Friday, March 28, for many Western North Carolina counties.
Henderson and Transylvania counties are under Code Purple.
Code Purple is very unhealthy air quality. The general public is urged to avoid long or intense outdoor activities. Sensitive groups particularly susceptible to health impacts, including children, older adults and people with asthma or heart conditions, should avoid all outdoor physical activity in these conditions.
Buncombe, Polk and Swain counties are under Code Red air quality.
Code Red means prolonged exposure to the air may be unhealthy for anyone. All residents should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors and taking more breaks. Anyone sensitive to air pollution should avoid long or intense outdoor activities.
Macon and Rutherford counties are in a Code Orange situation.
Code Orange signifies air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Children, older adults and people with asthma or heart conditions should limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors, take more breaks and watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.
The Rattlesnake Branch Fire that started Wednesday, March 26, in the Haywood County community Cruso moved into Pisgah National Forest and has impacted the Shining Rock Wilderness area. The U.S. Forest Service closed the area Thursday. Here's an update from the USFS Facebook page:
The Shining Rock Wilderness Area is closed for all uses, including the following trailheads:
Little East Fork
Shining Creek
Big East Fork
Mountains to Sea Trail Crossing at 215
Art Loeb Trail at Camp Daniel Boone
Art Loeb trail crossing at the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Hikers should obey all signs and expect to see trail guards patrolling trails near firefighting areas. Please limit your travel in this area so as not to hinder the work of fire crews. If you have travel plans in Haywood County, check with your host for updates. Remember there is a burn ban in effect for the state of North Carolina.
The Leicester Fire Department announced on Facebook Thursday night, March 27, that firefighters managed to get the Freedom Farm Fire under 60% containment. Here's the statement:
One last update for the evening…it's been a long two days!
The Freedom Farm Fire is at 130 acres with 60% containment. NC Forest Service has released all local fire departments but they remain on scene controlling the fire. Currently no structures are endangered.
A fire has been burning in Sylva. Jackson County Emergency posted this update Thursday evening, March 27, on its Facebook page:
Fire crews had a productive day on the fire near Sylva. The fire perimeter is secure, and burnout operations were successful. The footprint is 94 acres. While there may still be some smoke visible in the interior, it poses no threat to the fire lines. Friday, firefighters will check the line around the fire and continue to monitor. Some firefighters and air support have been released. Barring any changes, this will be our final update. We appreciate everyone's support.
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for all of Western North Carolina from noon Friday, March 28, until 8 p.m., meaning fire danger is high.
Here's what the warning says:
Very dry conditions will develop again this afternoon. Wind gusts will once again be in the 20-25 mph range with a few gusts, especially along ridgetops, near 30 mph. Winds will remain gusty throughout the afternoon, then taper off around sunset. Fine fuel moisture is expected to once again fall to below 10% during the afternoon hours, which in conjunction with aforementioned dry and gusty weather will be favorable for the rapid spread of wildfires across the warned area.
Jose Franco from the Greenville News provided this update on the fires burning in South Carolina:
The Table Rock Fire grew significantly Thursday, while the Persimmon Ridge Fire saw only modest expansion.
The Table Rock Fire is now estimated to be 8,679 acres, nearly double the 4,500 acres it had burned early Thursday, growing almost exclusively on the northern and western sides of the fire, according to infrared data obtained from a surveillance flight at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. The fire burned up the North Carolina state line in several places.
The Persimmon Ridge Fire grew to 1,992 acres Thursday, but according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission, most of the additional acreage was the result of burnouts that crews could conduct between existing firebreaks and the active fire.
Todd Runkle is the Carolinas Connect editor and also a trending news editor for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at trunkle@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Western NC wildfires live updates March 28: Where are the fires?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
7 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Thousands evacuated in 3 provinces as Canadian wildfires threaten air quality into some US states
FLIN FLON, Manitoba — More than 25,000 residents in three provinces have been evacuated as dozens of wildfires remained active Sunday and diminished air quality in parts of Canada and the U.S., according to officials. Most of the evacuated residents were from Manitoba, which declared a state of emergency last week. About 17,000 people there were evacuated by Saturday along with 1,300 in Alberta. About 8,000 people in Saskatchewan had been relocated as leaders there warned the number could climb. Smoke was worsening air quality and reducing visibility in Canada and into some U.S. states along the border. 'Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour,' Saskatchewan's Public Safety Agency warned Sunday. 'As smoke levels increase, health risks increase.' Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said firefighters, emergency crews and aircraft from other provinces and U.S. states, including Alaska, Oregon and Arizona, were being sent to help fight the blazes. 'We are truly grateful, and we stand stronger because of you,' Moe said in a post on social media. He said ongoing hot, dry weather is allowing some fires to grow and threaten communities, and resources to fight the fires and support the evacuees are stretched thin. 'The next four to seven days are absolutely critical until we can find our way to changing weather patterns, and ultimately a soaking rain throughout the north,' Moe said at a Saturday news conference. In Manitoba, more than 5,000 of those evacuated are from Flin Flon, located nearly 645 kilometers (400 miles) northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg. In northern Manitoba, fire knocked out power to the community of Cranberry Portage, forcing a mandatory evacuation order Saturday for about 600 residents. The fire menacing Flin Flon began a week ago near Creighton, Saskatchewan, and quickly jumped the boundary into Manitoba. Crews have struggled to contain it. Water bombers have been intermittently grounded due to heavy smoke and a drone incursion. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service deployed an air tanker to Alberta and said it would send 150 firefighters and equipment to Canada. In some parts of the U.S., air quality reached 'unhealthy' levels Sunday in North Dakota and small swaths of Montana, Minnesota and South Dakota, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow page. 'We should expect at least a couple more rounds of Canadian smoke to come through the U.S. over the next week,' said Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the U.S. Separately, a fire in the U.S. border state of Idaho burned at least 100 acres (40 hectares) as of Sunday, prompting road closures and some evacuations, according to the Idaho Department of Lands. The agency said in a news release that at least one structure was burned, but did not provide additional details about the damage. Strong gusty winds of 15 to 20 mph (24 to 32 kph) and steep terrain were making it difficult for firefighters battling the fire, which ignited Saturday. Evacuation centers have opened across Manitoba for those fleeing the fires, one as far south as Winkler, 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the U.S. border. Winnipeg opened up public buildings for evacuees as it deals with hotels already crammed with other fire refugees, vacationers, business people and convention-goers. Manitoba's Indigenous leaders said Saturday at a news conference that hotel rooms in the cities where evacuees are arriving are full, and they called on the government to direct hotel owners to give evacuees priority. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson said it was one of the largest evacuations in the province since the 1990s. 'It's really sad to see our children having to sleep on floors. People are sitting, waiting in hallways, waiting outside, and right now we just need people to come together. People are tired,' Wilson said at a news conference. Canada's wildfire season runs from May through September. Its worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Yahoo
Air quality alert extended to noon Wednesday throughout Minnesota
The entire state of Minnesota continues to be affected by wildfire smoke from Canada, triggering an air quality alert through noon on Wednesday, according to officials. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency officials say a band of heavy ground-level smoke has moved into the state behind a cold front. The smoke will trail the cold front as it moves from northwestern Minnesota to the southeast. The Twin Cities and central Minnesota could experience ground-level smoke by Monday night. The smoke was expected to reach southeastern Minnesota by Tuesday morning. Conditions across the state should improve Wednesday. Parts of the state are in the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's most severe 'hazardous' category because of the levels of fine particles in the air: • Northwestern Minnesota is in the maroon category, meaning the air quality is hazardous for everyone, with the potential for serious heart and lung effects such as asthma attack, heart attack, or stroke. Most people will experience irritated eyes, nose and throat, coughing, chest tightness or shortness of breath. • North central Minnesota is in the purple category, or very unhealthy for everyone. • Central and northeastern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, is in the red category, or unhealthy for everyone. • Southwestern and southeastern Minnesota is in the orange category, or unhealthy for sensitive groups. More than 25,000 residents in three provinces of Canada have been evacuated because of wildfires. Most of the evacuated residents were from Manitoba, which declared a state of emergency last week. Water bombers fighting the fires in Canada have been intermittently grounded due to heavy smoke and interference from drones. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service deployed an air tanker to Alberta and said it would send 150 firefighters and equipment to Canada. Letters: St. Paul should take care of what it has before spending on new things With federal cuts, Hubert H. Humphrey Job Corps to close after 44 years Two artists awarded $25K as McKnight Book Artist Fellows Air quality alert extended for MN as thousands evacuated in Canadian wildfires Minnesota veterans with PTSD turn to the outdoors to improve mental health
Fast Company
02-06-2025
- Fast Company
Wildfires unleash thousands of evacuations in Canada and ‘unhealthy' air quality in these U.S. states
More than 25,000 residents in three provinces have been evacuated as dozens of wildfires remained active Sunday and diminished air quality in parts of Canada and the U.S., according to officials. Most of the evacuated residents were from Manitoba, which declared a state of emergency last week. About 17,000 people there were evacuated by Saturday along with 1,300 in Alberta. About 8,000 people in Saskatchewan had been relocated as leaders there warned the number could climb. Smoke was worsening air quality and reducing visibility in Canada and into some U.S. states along the border. 'Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour,' Saskatchewan's Public Safety Agency warned Sunday. 'As smoke levels increase, health risks increase.' Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said firefighters, emergency crews and aircraft from other provinces and U.S. states, including Alaska, Oregon and Arizona, were being sent to help fight the blazes. 'We are truly grateful, and we stand stronger because of you,' Moe said in a post on social media. He said ongoing hot, dry weather is allowing some fires to grow and threaten communities, and resources to fight the fires and support the evacuees are stretched thin. 'The next four to seven days are absolutely critical until we can find our way to changing weather patterns, and ultimately a soaking rain throughout the north,' Moe said at a Saturday news conference. In Manitoba, more than 5,000 of those evacuated are from Flin Flon, located nearly 645 kilometers (400 miles) northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg. In northern Manitoba, fire knocked out power to the community of Cranberry Portage, forcing a mandatory evacuation order Saturday for about 600 residents. The fire menacing Flin Flon began a week ago near Creighton, Saskatchewan, and quickly jumped the boundary into Manitoba. Crews have struggled to contain it. Water bombers have been intermittently grounded due to heavy smoke and a drone incursion. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service deployed an air tanker to Alberta and said it would send 150 firefighters and equipment to Canada. In some parts of the U.S., air quality reached 'unhealthy' levels Sunday in North Dakota and small swaths of Montana, Minnesota and South Dakota, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow page. 'We should expect at least a couple more rounds of Canadian smoke to come through the U.S. over the next week,' said Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the U.S. Separately, a fire in the U.S. border state of Idaho burned at least 100 acres (40 hectares) as of Sunday, prompting road closures and some evacuations, according to the Idaho Department of Lands. The agency said in a news release that at least one structure was burned, but did not provide additional details about the damage. Strong gusty winds of 15 to 20 mph (24 to 32 kph) and steep terrain were making it difficult for firefighters battling the fire, which ignited Saturday. Evacuation centers have opened across Manitoba for those fleeing the fires, one as far south as Winkler, 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the U.S. border. Winnipeg opened up public buildings for evacuees as it deals with hotels already crammed with other fire refugees, vacationers, business people and convention-goers. Manitoba's Indigenous leaders said Saturday at a news conference that hotel rooms in the cities where evacuees are arriving are full, and they called on the government to direct hotel owners to give evacuees priority. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson said it was one of the largest evacuations in the province since the 1990s. 'It's really sad to see our children having to sleep on floors. People are sitting, waiting in hallways, waiting outside, and right now we just need people to come together. People are tired,' Wilson said at a news conference. Canada's wildfire season runs from May through September. Its worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months.
