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Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Governor Stein extends state of emergency for western NC wildfires
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — As wildfires continue to wreak havoc in western North Carolina, relief is being extended by the state and federal government. Governor Josh Stein announced Saturday that the state of emergency is extended for the next 30 days for 34 counties in NC. Wildfires have ravaged an already damaged part of the state, making it even harder for citizens to recover. '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 Governor 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.' Here are the counties included among the state of emergency: 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. PREVIOUSLY: Evacuation order issued as crews battle wildfire in western NC In the press release, the state's Department of Agriculture cited 2,348 wildfire incidents between March and April. A statewide burn ban was issued by the NC Forestry Service between March 21 and April 2. 'The spring wildfire season is off to a very busy start, which has kept the N.C. Forest Service, first responders and emergency management staff on their toes,' said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. The extension will continue to provide resources to assist counties by deploying firefighters and sending more logistical supplies and equipment. Also, the State Emergency Operations Center's 24-hour Watch Center will continue assisting counties with issuing evacuation orders through the Wireless Emergency Alert Network and through the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System. 'I appreciate the Governor extending the State of Emergency and making resources available, especially with the elevated risk of wildfires in Western NC,' said Troxler. 'I also urge people to use extreme caution when doing any burning.' FEMA previously announced on Monday that federal funds were authorized to help battle the Sam Davis Road wildfires in Swain County. They said the fire threatened approximately 70 homes in the Lower Alarka and Big Rockies Road area. Before that, FEMA provided federal funding for wildfires in Alarka — which is also in Swain County — the Table Rock Fire that started in South Carolina and spread to NC, and Black Cove in Polk and Henderson counties all back in March. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Communities scramble to flee as explosive wildfires torch over 10 square miles: 'One more thing that they're having to deal with'
Fires that burned almost 10 square miles in late March across two counties of western North Carolina forced officials to issue mandatory evacuation orders. Tinder-dry conditions and fuel provided by leftover debris from Hurricane Helene set the stage for a voracious spring wildfire season in the Carolinas, the Associated Press reported. Even after a statewide burn ban that had been in effect for nearly two weeks in late March was lifted, wildfires continued to rage across North Carolina. As April began, there were at least eight wildfires burning across North Carolina, the largest of which burned nearly four thousand acres. South Carolina also started April with eight active wildfires. The Table Rock Fire, the state's largest at the time, had charred nearly 13,000 acres. Residents of two harder-hit counties in western North Carolina, Polk and Henderson, were under evacuation orders and urged to move to an emergency shelter. "A lot of the damage and the blowdown, the downed trees from Hurricane Helene are contributing to the difficulties that our firefighters are facing trying to contain this fire and so that has just been kind of one ongoing crisis from September all through into the spring for a lot of these residents," North Carolina Forest Service spokesperson Bo Dossett told the AP. "This is one more thing that they're having to deal with on top of what they experienced back in the fall." Recent rains have helped firefighters get many of the fires under control over the last week, and assisting firefighters from out of state have begun traveling home, but not all fires are completely contained yet and there is still much recovery work to do even in the areas that are out of the woods. Several rapid attribution studies have shown Hurricane Helene was supercharged by the overheating of the planet. Scientists with World Weather Attribution concluded that our warming world was a "key driver of catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Helene that devastated both coastal and inland communities." The debris left in the storm's wake dried up in the unusually warm and dry period that followed. The period of October through February was the 31st-warmest and fourth-driest on record for North Carolina, and the 26th-warmest and fourth-driest for South Carolina. The last U.S. Drought Monitor report posted in March revealed that 61% of North Carolina and nearly 60% of South Carolina were enduring a moderate drought, level one out of four. "Climate change, including increased heat, extended drought, and a thirsty atmosphere, has been a key driver in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires in the western United States during the last two decades," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Report. Reducing the amount of heat-trapping gases released into Earth's atmosphere by transitioning from dirty energy to renewable energy sources will help cool our planet. We can all help curb harmful carbon pollution by doing things like installing a heat pump, switching to an induction stove, or signing up for community solar power — which can seem small, but once added up across even a million people, make a big difference. Do you think your house could withstand a hurricane? No way Maybe a weak one I'm not sure It definitely could Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
All Table Rock trails reopen after wildfires
PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – All Table Rock State Park hiking trails have reopened as of April 11 after being closed due to recent fires. The only parts of the park still closed are the climber's access trails until they are evaluated for safety, according to park officials. Wi-fi within the park may be down due to damaged fiber optic cables. Park staff have asked for all campers to check in at the visitor center, located at 158 E. Ellison Lane. They should also use only the West Gate Entrance at 1025 Table Rock State Park Road for entry and exit. The park was closed due to the Table Rock Fire, which began March 21. It became the Upstate's largest fire in history. A total of 13,845 acres were burned before the fire was fully contained on April 8. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Table Rock Complex Fire nears complete containment
PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – Crews have made significant progress on the Table Rock Complex fire, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC). On Thursday, crews confirmed both the Persimmon Ridge Fire in Greenville County and the Table Rock Fire in Pickens County were nearing complete containment. Persimmon Ridge Fire in Greenville County: Estimated to have burned more than 2,000 acres, 99% contained Table Rock Fire in Pickens County: Estimated to have stretched across more than 13,800 acres, 91% contained The Table Rock Fire, which officials said was sparked by three negligent teenagers and a minor, began on March 21. The Persimmon Ridge Fire, which the South Carolina Forestry Commission said was also human-caused, started on March 22. The fires combined have burned nearly 16,000 acres across Greenville and Pickens Counties, and crossed the state line into North Carolina. The two incidents were fueled early on by strong winds and dry conditions. However, crews said they reached a turning point this week. 'Thank goodness for rain,' said State Fire Marshal, Jonathan Jones. The weather, as Jones said, worked in crews' favor with containment efforts that grew stronger by the day. The rainfall was a critical factor that slowed the fire's spread and cooled many hot spots. While it didn't completely extinguish the fires, it provided much-needed relief, according to the SCFC. 'It's really kept the fire in check. It allowed Forestry crews to get out and solidify containment lines and make sure that there are no threats to the fire spreading,' said Jones. Although the Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge fires remained active on Thursday, crews from the South Carolina Forestry Commission reported significant progress as they transitioned into a new phase of their response. 'We haven't quite controlled it yet. We're still in containment, suppression mode but now we're in suppression repair mode,' said Madeline Stewart with the South Carolina Forestry Commission. 'People driving through the area may have seen tracks where heavy equipment has been. We're working to cover up and repair areas that have been damaged. We are trying to leave this area as best we can.' The transition to suppression repair mode reflects a new stage of firefighting efforts, focused on restoring the environment and minimizing long-term damage caused by fire suppression activities. It's a demanding and time-consuming job, one that Stewart said could likely last for several weeks. Additional crews remained on standby to respond if needed, while some resources began to demobilize. The SCFC said firefighters continue to patrol more than 60 miles around the fire perimeter, extinguishing any active hot spots. 'Crews go in and feel with their bare hands for hot spots. We also use drone technology to sense hot spots and we go in and extinguish those,' said Stewart. State fire leaders said they gain new insights into how to handle future emergencies with each major incident. One recurring theme, according to Jonathan Jones, is the strength of South Carolina's fire service. 'Just how robust the South Carolina fire service is and their willingness for neighbors to help neighbors, regardless of the jurisdiction,' said Jones. Officials said the fires have led to the largest state Firefighter Mobilization since the program's inception in 2000. 'To see that many resources come across to help others, it's been a pretty impressive thing to watch,' said Chad Beam who's a part of the Emergency Response Task Force with South Carolina State Fire. The South Carolina Firefighter Mobilization Program allows the state to quickly deploy fire resources from various jurisdictions to respond to large-scale emergencies, such as wildfires, natural disasters, or other significant incidents, according to SC State Fire. A thousand firefighters were mobilized from across the state, along with nearly 400 vehicles, including engines, brush trucks, UTVs, and additional federal support. These valuable resources were used to tackle what is now the Upstate's largest fire in history. 'Every fire is unique, and we've needed every bit of expertise available. We are so grateful for the additional help,' said Stewart. The South Carolina Forestry Commission said their mop-up operations will continue until the fires are fully contained and completely under control. Meanwhile, officials have lifted all evacuation orders related to the Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge fires. A portion of Table Rock State Park is expected to reopen on Monday, April 6. The timeline could change based on ongoing assessments of the park's trails and overall fire conditions. The SCFC said the cost of combating a fire of this magnitude is anticipated to exceed $1 million, covering expenses such as suppression efforts, infrastructure damage, the use of firefighting resources, and other related factors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
02-04-2025
- USA Today
Cigarettes ignited large Table Rock fire in South Carolina, officials say
Cigarettes ignited large Table Rock fire in South Carolina, officials say Show Caption Hide Caption Wildfires blaze across Carolinas, forcing mandatory evacuations Wildfires blazed across the Carolinas, forcing mandatory evacuations. The cause of the fires is unknown. Three South Carolina men and a teenager were arrested Tuesday on suspicion of starting the largest mountain wildfire in state history, the South Carolina Forest Commission said. The teens were smoking on a hiking trail at Table Rock State Park on March 21 and did not properly extinguish their cigarettes, sparking the inferno, according to the state agency. The Pickens County Sheriff's Office said Nyzaire Jah-Neiz Marsh, 19, Isaac David Wilson, and Tristan William Tyler, both 18, and a minor, who was not identified, were charged with arson and negligently allowing a fire to spread. Data from the South Carolina Forestry Commission shows the Table Rock Fire has burned over 13,200 acres of land, making it the largest mountain wildfire in South Carolina history. As of Tuesday, the wildfire was 30% contained. Recent rounds of heavy rainfall have helped firefighters battling the blaze by reducing fire activity at the burn site. The Table Rock Fire was one of several large wildfires that broke out across the Carolinas last month, straining firefighting resources as officials issued burn bans, evacuated neighborhoods and opened shelters. The downed trees and dry brush left over from Hurricane Helene fueled the blazes along with strong wind gusts and low humidity. Just east of the Table Rock Fire, the Persimmon Ridge Fire has burned over 2,000 acres of land and was 74% contained as of Tuesday, according to the forest commission, which said in an operational update that the fire "has ceased growth and will remain in its current footprint." The Table Rock Fire was discovered on March 21 while rescue crews searched for missing hiker Stephanie Womack. The search group evacuated seven hikers, including the teens, and questioned them about the origins of the fire. Marsh, Wilson and Tyler posted $7,500 bonds and were released. The juvenile was not booked and was released into his parent's custody. More: What to do after a wildfire? Here's what to do if your property is damaged
