Western NC wildfires live updates Saturday, March 29: See the latest from around the region
But fires continue to pop up, as was the case Friday with a 4-acre fire in Garren Creek in Buncombe County that firefighters contained.
Hundreds of firefighters from across the country are battling the wildfires around the clock in WNC and the Upstate. Five hundred firefighting personnel have been battling the blazes in Polk County, where some residents have faced mandatory evacuations, as have residents in other counties such as Transylvania. 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 doubled in size Friday and crossed the state line into Transylvania County in North Carolina. 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, that has forced the closure of Shining Rock Wilderness in Pisgah National Forest.
Weather conditions Saturday are expected to be less prime for fire spreading, but don't be fooled, the dangers of wildfires is high. Burn bans are still in effect across all of North Carolina and South Carolina, and fire risks persist.
The Asheville Citizen Times will bring you live updates on wildfire conditions throughout Saturday.
You can track the wildfires with our interactive fire map, which is updated hourly, shows where the fires are and has information about their size, origin and more.
For more information on the fires and for a picture of how conditions have been developing, take a look at our live coverage from Friday, March 28, Thursday, March 27, and Wednesday, March 26.
The National Weather Service says that for all of Western North Carolina, there is an increased fire danger from noon Saturday, March 29, through the evening.
The good news is humidity levels will remain higher Saturday across WNC than on the previous three afternoons.
"However, fine wildland fuels such as forest litter and small dead branches remain exceptionally dry," the NWS said in a statement issued at 4:01 a.m. Saturday. "The danger of wildfires remains elevated. Any outdoor fires that are started could spread quickly and be difficult to control."
North Carolina remains under a statewide burn ban.
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality has issued a Code Red air quality alert for Buncombe, Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties until midnight Saturday.
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.
Also, Code Orange is in place for Haywood, Macon, McDowell, Rutherford and Swain counties.
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.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Western NC wildfires updates March 29: Where are the fires?
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