Latest news with #N.C.ForestService
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Massive wildfire grows to 1,500 acres near NC coast; Boiling Spring Lakes roads reopen in Brunswick County
BOILING SPRING LAKES, N.C. (WNCN) — Officials said a massive wildfire near the North Carolina coast in Boiling Spring Lakes nearly tripled in size again overnight into Sunday in Brunswick County. The 'Sunset Road Fire' began Friday, burning 200 acres near N.C. 87 and grew to 650 acres on Saturday, just 10 miles from popular beach vacation areas, according to Boiling Spring Lakes town officials. 'On Saturday morning, the wildfire grew due to spotting over containment lines, causing the fire to spread,' N.C. Forest Service officials said in a Sunday news release. By Sunday morning, the wildfire was up to 1,500 acres and was just 10 percent contained, the N.C. Forest Service said. 650 acre wildfire near NC coast; evacuations, roads closed in Brunswick County Crews said, 'erratic winds and regionally dry conditions have made containment of the fire difficult.' About a half-inch of rain fell overnight into Sunday, which diminished flames in the 'tree canopy,' the news release said. But, forest officials said the fire could reignite in areas. 'Deep, smoldering organic soil also has the potential to hold fire below the soil surface, causing difficulties in extinguishing,' the news release said. As of Sunday, no homes have been destroyed by the fire. The fire is located 10 miles north of Caswell Beach and 10 miles west of Carolina Beach. On Sunday, all roads are opened and all evacuations were lifted, the N.C. Forest Service said. Air quality has improved somewhat, with a Code Orange air quality alert in Brunswick County for Sunday. As of noon Sunday, the N.C. Forest Service Incident Management Team took command of the Sunset Road Fire. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
NC Gov. extends state of emergency for wildfires
(WSPA) – North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has extended a state of emergency order for parts of western North Carolina in response to wildfires in the region. Stein first declared a state of emergency due to the spread of wildfires in western North Carolina in March. His most recent order extends the declaration another 30 days. 'I appreciate all of the first responders, emergency managers, state forest rangers, and state and local officials working hard to protect North Carolinians from wildfires,' said Stein.'I am extending this State of Emergency to ensure the State Emergency Response Team has every resource available to continue to respond to wildfires to protect people and property.' Over the last two months officials with the N.C. Forest Service, as as well as first responders and emergency management staff have responded to 2,348 wildfire incidents spanning more than 23,000 acres, according to Steve Troxler, state agriculture commissioner. 'I appreciate the Governor extending the State of Emergency and making resources available, especially with the elevated risk of wildfires in Western NC. I also urge people to use extreme caution when doing any burning,' he said. As many communities continue to see dry conditions and the recurrence of wildfire activity, the State Emergency Response Team continues to maintain regular communication with the North Carolina Forest Service and with county emergency management offices to ensure first responders, state forest firefighters, and state forest rangers have the tools needed to keep people safe. The State of Emergency includes 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, Yancey, as well as the tribal lands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. 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
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Forecasted rain will help contain raging wildfires in western North Carolina
Rain will finally fall on some ashen landscape in western North Carolina on Sunday and Monday. Over 7,000 acres are burning in Black Cove and Deep Woods fires in Henderson and Polk counties. The Black Cove fire is 23% contained, according to the North Carolina Fire Weather Intelligence Portal, and the Deep Woods fire is 32% contained. According to data from the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg, there is at least a small chance of rain in Hendersonville from 1 a.m. on Sunday through Monday. The highest chances of rain are from sunrise to sunset on Sunday and Monday. Thunder is likely with some of these storms, particularly on Monday. Highs temperatures will be near 70 degrees on both days. After Sunday and Monday, there are a chance of rain showers from Wednesday through Friday. A spokesperson for the N.C. Forest Service said any kind of moisture helps, despite lightning worries. "We're continually working to contain these fires and increase containment on them with the help of moisture or higher humidity, it is reducing fire behavior overnight," he said. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Forecasted thunderstorms will help contain North Carolina blazes
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Western North Carolina wildfires at least 20 percent contained, as resources dip due to other in-state fires
POLK COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – Additional resources continue arriving to assist with the wildfires that erupted this week in Polk and Henderson counties. N.C. Forest Service officials provided an update Friday night on the firefighting efforts in western North Carolina. There are 458 personnel from North Carolina and across the nation supporting on scene. Resources assigned to this complex have decreased due to North Carolina personnel resources being needed for response to other in-state fires. A Red Flag Warning over the fire area expired this evening. This warning was issued by the National Weather Service due to increased temperature, low humidity and increased winds. The potential for rain is forecast early next week ahead of a cold front that will approach the region Sunday before crossing the area Monday. PREVIOUS: Evacuation levels upgraded in Polk, Henderson counties as wildfires continue to spread Black Cove Fire Currently, the Black Cove Fire is 3,410 acres in size and 23% contained. The fire is burning in timber on state-owned and private land, approximately 2 miles northeast of Saluda, in the Green River Gorge. 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. The southwest portion of Black Cove is still top priority to secure the fire's edge and protect homes within the Skyland Acres area. The cause of this fire was determined to be a downed powerline. Deep Woods Fire The Deep Woods Fire is 3,797 acres in size and 32% contained. The fire began on Wednesday and 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 northwestern section of the fire is becoming more secure, as firefighting crews continue to patrol and monitor fire containment lines. Structure protection efforts are ongoing along the southeastern section of the fire. Containment lines have been constructed from Green River Road to Holbert Cove Road by way of Cove Mountain, and strategic firing operations have begun on that section and will continue into the night. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. South Carolina wildfire keeps growing as firefighters protect homes Fish Hook Fire The Fish Hook Fire is 199 acres in size and 95% contained. The fire began Thursday is burning approximately 5 miles northwest of Mill Spring on private land near Lake Adger. Firefighting personnel have stopped forward progress of the fire and continue securing firebreaks along the fire's edges and extinguishing smoldering fuels. Containment is expected to increase in the coming days, and firefighters will remain on scene until the fire no longer poses a threat. The cause of this fire was determined to be a downed powerline. On Tuesday, Gov. Josh Stein declared a State of Emergency to expand the state's capacity to respond to the wildfires burning in western North Carolina. A statewide burn ban remains in effect. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
