Latest news with #NicholasHoffmann
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfire threat increases for Helene-ravaged Carolinas as work to contain existing fires continues
POLK COUNTY, N.C. - New Fire Weather Warnings were issued Friday across parts of western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina amid a nearly weeklong battle with wildfires that are burning some of the same areas devastated by Hurricane Helene six months ago. According to the FOX Forecast Center, winds are forecast to pick up Friday afternoon. Combined with low humidity, conditions are ripe for the rapid enhancement of the ongoing fires, which have already scorched more than 18,000 acres across the Carolinas. Both states are under statewide burn bans Friday due to the heightened fire danger. Both governors declared states of emergency earlier in the week. Meanwhile, officials said lingering damage and debris from Hurricane Helene has hampered the firefighting effort. 6 Months Later: Recovery From Helene Flooding Ongoing In North Carolina "The Helene damage is actually one of the biggest contributing factors to the difficulty in fighting this fire," said North Carolina Forest Service Supervisor Nicholas Hoffmann on Tuesday. "Because of all the damage, the landslides, the lack of access that it has created … in addition to the steep, steep terrain and the high winds we're having right now." Winds are forecast to blow from the northeastern direction Friday afternoon. According to the FOX Forecast Center, gusts are expected to be in the 20-25 mph range with a few gusts, especially along ridge tops, over 30 mph. Those gusts will taper off around sunset. Humidity is expected to increase across the region on Saturday, reducing the fire threat. Parts of Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia are under Elevated Fire Danger. Video Shows Intense Flames Around Florida Homes As Dozens Of Wildfires Burn Across State The largest wildfire is the Table Rock Fire, which has burned more than 8,000 acres in upstate South Carolina and is straddling the North Carolina state line. South Carolina firefighters said Friday morning that their main objective is to create containment lines with bulldozers and perform targeted burnouts ahead of the wildfire's anticipated direction. They're also hoping combined resources can hold the firelines. "Today, one of our main priorities for the team is fully integrating [North Carolina firefighters] with the South Carolina group and bridging all of those gaps," said Derrick Moore, operations section chief with the Southern Area Blue Team. The Table Rock Fire remains at 0% containment. The Black Cover Fire complex threatening Polk and Henderson counties in North Carolina is the highest priority fire in that state, according to forestry officials. It has burned more than 3,000 acres and is 17% contained as of Thursday evening. The fire destroyed more than a dozen homes in Polk County on Tuesday. What's The Difference Between A 'Controlled' Fire And A 'Contained' Fire? Degrading air quality has become a growing concern for the region as wildfire smoke expands. North Carolina's Department of Environmental Quality has extended air quality advisories through Friday. In particular, people in Transylvania and Henderson counties are advised to avoid long or intense outdoor activities due to the smoke from the Table Rock Fire in South Carolina. Drivers are being told to be alert for smoke along Interstate 26. There are now at least seven areas of wildfire smoke impacting North Carolina air quality, officials said. The Rattlesnake Branch Fire in Cruso, North Carolina, grew to at least 400 acres and is sending smoke to nearby Asheville. Air quality in Asheville and Flat Rock in North Carolina dropped into the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category Thursday. Video from Asheville showed the smoky haze filling the skies. Air quality conditions in Greenville and Spartanburg in South Carolina are only faring a little article source: Wildfire threat increases for Helene-ravaged Carolinas as work to contain existing fires continues
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
North Carolina wildfires scorch 6,000 acres as lingering Helene damage hampers firefight: 'Absolute travesty'
POLK COUNTY, N.C. – The fight against destructive wildfires tearing through North Carolina is being significantly hampered by Hurricane Helene's lingering devastation, officials revealed, calling the situation "an absolute travesty." Evacuations Expand In Carolinas As Wildfires Rage In Hurricane Helene-ravaged Areas The powerful storm, which swept through the region in late September, left behind a trail of destruction that is now proving to be a major obstacle in containing the blazes that have consumed over 6,000 acres in the state. As evacuation orders remain in place for several neighborhoods, the stark reality of the intertwined disasters is becoming increasingly clear, North Carolina Forest Service Supervisor Nicholas Hoffmann said. "It is an absolute travesty that it's happened," he emphasized. "And the Helene damage is actually one of the biggest contributing factors to the difficulty in fighting this fire because of all the damage, the landslides, the lack of access that it has created … in addition to the steep, steep terrain and the high winds we're having right now." Fire officials are now grappling with a two-layered crisis. FOX Weather meteorologists spent weeks on the ground in North Carolina following Helene, and their reports painted a stark picture of the sheer volume of fallen trees and debris that would dry out and become potent fuel, increasing the fire risk. "You have thousands of trees that are just lying in the forest that have been drying up over the last couple of months, and it's a tinderbox," FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said. "These are hard areas to access. That's what made it so challenging with Helene and the response efforts, and they're still trying to rebuild. Now, they have a second natural disaster pretty much on their hands." As fires continue to burn, Mother Nature is not doing the area any favors with another dry and windy day on tap for Wednesday. The FOX Forecast Center said westerly winds will descend on the east side of the Appalachians, where they'll be warm and dry. This will contribute to afternoon temperatures in the 60s and 70s, winds between 15 and 30 mph and relative humidity below 30%. These are ripe conditions for the spread of ongoing or new fires. Although it will remain dry on Thursday, the fire threat will not be as great as it is Wednesday, as high pressure moves in overhead and causes the winds to diminish. The destructive power of wildfires in Polk County has become evident after 11 homes were destroyed on Tuesday. Officials report that the Black Cove Fire, which was started by a downed power line, has burned over 3,000 acres and remains uncontained. The nearby Deep Woods Fire has also consumed nearly 3,000 acres with no containment. The smaller Fish Hook Fire is partially contained, but the situation led to the evacuation of 165 homes by Tuesday evening. By Tuesday evening, emergency management officials in Henderson County had mandated evacuations for the Summer Haven community and four other neighborhoods. An additional dozen nearby communities were also under pre-evacuation advisories. New Wildfire Nearly Traps Deputies Searching For Hiker Missing Weeks In South Carolina Wilderness Simultaneously, South Carolina also issued evacuation orders Tuesday evening in Greenville and Pickens counties due to the Persimmon Ridge Fire, which is part of the larger Table Rock Fire Complex. The South Carolina Forestry Commission said that good progress was made in battling the blaze on Tuesday, but later, "wind gusts dramatically increased fire activity." The Table Rock Fire has burned over 2,200 acres, and the Persimmon Ridge Fire has charred about 1,000 acres. Both are at 0% article source: North Carolina wildfires scorch 6,000 acres as lingering Helene damage hampers firefight: 'Absolute travesty'
