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Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Massive South Carolina wildfire jumps border, spreads into North Carolina
A massive wildfire burning for more than a week in South Carolina jumped the border Saturday and was spreading Sunday into North Carolina, where firefighters were already battling multiple blazes, officials said. The Table Rock Fire, which started on March 21 in the Table Rock State Park in Pickens County, South Carolina, had burned 11,468 acres total as of Sunday morning in both South Carolina and North Carolina, charring more than 500 acres overnight, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission. The Table Rock Fire is now the highest-priority fire in the United States as fire crews responded from multiple states to help battle the blaze, which prompted the evacuations of more than 1,400 homes and businesses on Thursday. As the fire spread across the border into North Carolina, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said firefighters had upped containment of the fire from 0% on Saturday to 9% by Sunday morning. Derrick Moore, operations section chief with the South Carolina Forestry Commission's Southern Area Blue Team, said fire crews are hoping that rain forecast for the area later Sunday and into Monday will help firefighters extinguish the flames. Pickens County Sheriff Tommy Blankenship said last week that investigators suspect the Table Rock Fire was started by four teenagers. He alleged that the negligent behavior of the teens caused the fire but declined to elaborate. 'They will be held accountable for their actions. I can promise you that," Blankenship said in a video posted to social media. Another fire, the Rattlesnake Branch Fire, spread Saturday from South Carolina's Pickens County into western North Carolina's Transylvania County, according to an update Sunday from Transylvania County officials. The Rattlesnake Branch Fire in North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest in Haywood County was burning close to the Transylvania County line but had not breached it, according to Transylvania County officials. The fire had burned nearly 1,900 acres and was 20% contained, according to the Sunday update. MORE: Video Thousands of acres scorched in Carolinas wildfires A third fire threatening to spread into Transylvania County is the Persimmon Ridge fire, which is burning in South Carolina near the Table Rock Fire and had grown to more than 2,000 acres as of Sunday afternoon. That fire also was threatening to jump the border into North Carolina, Transylvania County officials said. Meanwhile, in Polk County, North Carolina, three wildfires continue to burn but authorities said firefighters who have been battling the blazes for days had made significant progress. The Black Cove Complex Fire – comprised of three wildland blazes: the Black Cove Fire, the Deep Woods Fire and the Fish Hook Fire – had reached a combined 7,670 acres as of Sunday, according to Polk County officials. MORE: 3 major wildfires prompt evacuations in North Carolina's Polk County The Black Cove fire, which was started March 19 by a downed powerline, was 35% contained after burning 3,501 acres, officials said. The Deep Woods fire, which also started on March 19, has burned 3,970 acres, authorities said Sunday. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Fish Hook Fire, which started March 20 by a downed powerline, was 100% contained on Sunday after burning 199 acres, according to officials. Massive South Carolina wildfire jumps border, spreads into North Carolina originally appeared on
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Latest updates on the Black Cove Complex fire
POLK COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) – The North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA) has shared the latest information on the Black Cove Complex in Polk and Henderson County. As of March 29, there are over 490 personnel, both from North Carolina and out-of-state, that are assigned to the Black Cove Complex. The NCDA stated that firefighters from over 14 states have come over to assist. Black Cove Fire On March 29, the Black Cove Fire was reported to have reached up to 3,500 acres, and is now 35% contained. The fire burning on state-owner and private land, and is approximately 2 miles northeast of Saluda. Deep Woods Fire As of March 29, the Deep Woods Fire has reportedly burned almost 4,000 acres, and is 32% contained. The fire is burning 5 miles northwest of Columbus on state-owned and private land. Crews were reportedly able to secure containment lines in the Holbert Cove and Cove Mountain areas, and are hoping for further containment with the upcoming favorable weather. Fish Hook Fire As of March 29, the Fish Hook Fire is reported to be 100% contained. Almost 200 acres were burned in the process. The fire was 5 miles northwest of Mill Spring. Officials said that, due to the recent humid weather conditions, the fire behavior has decreased as suppression and repair efforts continue to hold stead. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Evacuations continue Saturday from rapidly spreading NC and SC mountain wildfires
Mandatory evacuations continued in the Carolinas on Saturday from rapidly spreading mountain wildfires that firefighters from across the United States have battled for days, emergency officials said. Three fires that merged to form the Black Cove Complex Fire have burned nearly 7,000 acres in Western North Carolina's Polk and Henderson counties, N.C. Forest Service rangers said Friday night. The fires engulfed 22 structures, forced evacuations on 18 roads and required an injured firefighter to be airlifted to a hospital. AmeriCorps NCCC, which sent a team of firefighters, called the Black Cove Complex Fire on Friday the 'highest priority fire in the U.S.' About 450 firefighters from across the state and nation were on the scene Friday night, according to the N.C. Forest Service. Concord Fire deployed a team that has worked all three of the Black Cove Complex fires. And FEMA on Friday authorized federal money to reimburse costs to North Carolina to fight the massive Table Rock fire in Transylvania County. The fire spread northeast from Pickens County, S.C., and has consumed 10,904 acres, according to an update Saturday by the S.C. Forestry Commission. Another S.C. mountain wildfire, the Persimmon Ridge Fire, has consumed 2,000 acres in Greenville and Pickens counties, officials said. One of the fires that formed the Black Cove Complex Fire has burned 3,410 acres and was 23% contained, Forest Service officials said in a noon update Saturday. The fire, named the Black Cove Fire, was about two miles northeast of Saluda, in the Green River Gorge. Gastonia firefighters were among those who worked through the night late Friday and early Saturday to protect homes near Saluda from the fire. 'Fire behavior has continued to be intense, with rapid fire spread and areas of extreme burning conditions due to shifting winds and dry weather during the day,' according to a news release from the Forest Service on Friday night. Overnight, the fire 'calmed down due to increasing humidity and cloud cover,' fire officials said Saturday. 'Crews patrolled and monitored fire lines throughout the night.' A downed power line caused the fire, which was first reported on Wednesday, officials said. The second fire, known as the Deep Woods Fire, spread to 3,797 acres and was 32% contained by Friday night. The fire was about five miles northwest of Columbus, on state-owned and private land in the Green River Gorge and the neighboring Holbert Cove community, according to the N.C. Forest Service. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The fire also was first reported on Wednesday. The third fire, called the Fish Hook Fire, covered 199 acres and was 95% contained, officials said. The fire was about five miles northwest of Mill Spring on private land near Lake Adger. A downed power line also caused that fire, which was reported on Thursday, officials said. A 1,300-acre fire in the Alarka community near Bryson City was only 10% contained, Swain County Emergency Management officials said on social media at 8:30 p.m. Friday. The cause of the fire that started Tuesday remains under investigation, officials said. Evacuations were ordered for Long Creek Lane, Unahala Creek and Alarka Highlands. Temperatures and wind increased in Swain County early Saturday ahead of possible rain, officials said. Gusts up to 21 mph were expected and highs near 70 degrees. The chance of showers stood at 40% this weekend. 'Dry windy conditions and rough, rocky terrain will make fire suppression efforts difficult until significant rain is received,' Swain County emergency officials said. North Carolina is under a statewide burn ban. A state of emergency was declared Wednesday for 34 Western North Carolina counties. To check wildfire activity across the state, use the North Carolina Forest Service wildfire public viewer at
NBC News
29-03-2025
- Climate
- NBC News
South Carolina wildfire keeps growing as firefighters protect homes
A large wildfire in the South Carolina mountains has doubled in size on each of the last three days. But fire crews have been able to keep the blaze away from structures. Firefighters battling the Table Rock Mountain fire have concentrated on saving lives and property by digging fire breaks that push the blaze north through undeveloped land on the Pickens County ridges near the North Carolina state line, officials said Friday. No injuries have been reported. Airplanes and helicopters have completed more than 550 water-dropping missions on the Table Rock fire and a second blaze on Persimmon Ridge about 8 miles away. But for now it is mostly defense in the Blue Ridge Mountains until the weather cooperates with a soaking rain or lessening winds, South Carolina Forester Scott Phillips said at a news conference Friday at Table Rock State Park. 'With these fires and the conditions we are facing in the state right now — the dryness of the fuel, the extremely low humidity, the high winds that we're having — containment is very, very difficult to achieve,' Phillips said. The Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge fires have burned about 17 square miles. The Table Rock fire started a week ago and has been doubling in size since Tuesday as windy and dry conditions have spread through the mountains. In North Carolina, at least eight fires were burning in the mountains. The largest — the Black Cove Fire and the Deep Woods Fire in Polk County — were becoming more contained. They have scorched about 10 square miles combined but have barely grown late this week. And while those fires have received the most attention, the wildfire season has already been busy thanks to a drought and Hurricane Helene six months ago knocking down millions of trees. The fallen trees act as fuel and block firefighters trying to get to blazes. 'It will be a continuing issue for the next several years. It's going to change the way we have to attack fires in the mountains of South Carolina,' Phillips said. Firefighters helping the state Forestry Commission have fought 373 wildfires in South Carolina that have burned more than 28 square miles just in March. 'That's orders of magnitude more than we typically do within a month –- even more than we do in some years as far as the number of acres burned,' Phillips said. April is typically the worst month for wildfires and long-term forecasts don't show conditions changing much. 'This is going to be a long season for us,' Phillips said. A ban an outdoor burning has been in place for more than a week in South Carolina. Officials have given no indication when they will lift it. Gov. Henry McMaster reminded people that violating the burn ban can mean jail time, and starting a fire even through negligence could leave someone on the hook for everything damaged. 'You go out and start a fire and you burn your neighbor's house down — you owe them a house,' McMaster said. Weather forecasts for the weekend have encouraging news. Calm winds are predicted overnight, and rain should fall Sunday and Monday, although the National Weather Service is not predicting the kind of soaking firefighters want. 'We're going to get it out,' McMaster said of the fires. 'We're hoping we are going to have some rain, have some help. Everybody put that in your prayers.'
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
8 NC wildfires still burning over 7,600+ acres; 2 of largest caused by downed powerlines
COLUMBUS, N.C. (WNCN/AP) — In North Carolina, at least eight fires are still burning in the mountains. Two of the three largest wildfires were caused by downed powerlines, officials say. The North Carolina Forest Service reported Saturday morning that 458 crews were working to fight the fires. Firefighting crews from across North Carolina and 14 other states are involved in the effort, the N.C. Forest Service said. The largest — the Black Cove Fire and the Deep Woods Fire in Polk County — were becoming more contained. As of Saturday morning, the Black Cove Fire is 3,410 acres in size and 23 percent contained. The Black Cove Fire was first reported March 19. The cause was determined to be a downed powerline. As of Saturday morning, the Deep Woods Fire is 3,797 acres in size and 32 percent 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. The Fish Hook Fire is 199 acres in size and 95% contained. It is burning approximately 5 miles northwest of Mill Spring on private land near Lake Adger. The cause of this fire was determined to be a downed powerline. Effective 8 a.m. Friday, March 21, a ban on all open burning was issued statewide. All burning permits are canceled. No new permits are being issued. The ban remains in effect until further notice. And while the three largest fires have received the most attention, the wildfire season has already been busy thanks to a drought and Hurricane Helene six months ago knocking down millions of trees. The fallen trees act as fuel and block firefighters trying to get to blazes. The Associated Press contributed to this report Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
