Wildfires are raging out of control in western North Carolina, forcing mandatory evacuations and destroying homes and buildings. The blazes have scorched almost 8 square miles in rural Polk County, with firefighters converging on the area to battle at least three separate fires [1].
Governor Josh Stein has expressed concern over the wildfires, urging residents to monitor emergency alerts and follow evacuation orders. “I’m concerned about the wildfires in Polk County, where people are already struggling due to Mother Nature,” Stein said in a social media post.
The two largest fires have burned more than 7 square miles in Polk County and remain 0% contained, according to the state Forest Service. Both fires have been burning since Wednesday, with high winds, low humidity, and a lack of rainfall contributing to the elevated fire risk.
A statewide burning ban is in place, with the state emergency management agency warning residents not to burn outdoors. “Many areas across the state have seen fires this weekend. A statewide burning ban (is) in place. Do not burn outdoors at all!” the agency said in a social media post.
The situation is dire, with the agency urging people to quickly leave evacuation zones due to reduced visibility, blocked evacuation routes, and the risk of being trapped, injured, or killed.
In neighboring South Carolina, Governor Henry McMaster has declared a state of emergency to ensure firefighters have the resources needed to combat the Table Rock Fire in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The state has obtained a FEMA grant to help cover the costs of additional fire crews, air tankers, and equipment.
The Table Rock Fire has grown to over 1,300 acres with no containment, with heavy traffic and hazardous driving conditions hampering response efforts. The South Carolina Forestry Commission has implemented a burnout strategy, setting ablaze several hundred acres to eliminate parched growth between evacuated residential areas and the active wildfires. The burnout has been deemed successful in removing fuels, according to the commission.
The wildfires come on the heels of devastating floods driven by Hurricane Helene in September, which claimed the lives of 248 people, including 105 in North Carolina. Total damage from the storm was estimated at $78.7 billion, with more than half of that in North Carolina.
