This is a developing story and will be updated.
Wednesday March 26 12:45 p.m.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the Black Cove Complex is the highest-priority fire in the Southern U.S.
Currently, 303 personnel from North Carolina and other states are attempting to control the wildfire in Polk County.
On Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for the mountains of Polk and Henderson counties, indicating the potential for severe fire behavior and the possibility of rapid fire spread.
Firefighters continue preparing firebreaks and protecting structures in anticipation of elevated temperatures, high winds and low humidity Monday afternoon.
Wednesday March 26 11 a.m.
Swain County
A fire burning in Alarka neighborhood, just south of Bryson City, is at 1,000 acres and 0% contained, Swain County Emergency Management posted on its Facebook page around midnight Tuesday. The following areas are urged to evacuate:
- Long Creek Lane
- Unahala Creek
- Alarka Highlands
A shelter has been set up at the Alarka Community Center for those evacuated.
Henderson County
On Wednesday, Henderson County officials issued a state of emergency. It’s unclear if the order has a retroactive effect but government leaders said Wednesday the emergency declaration was effective starting on March 24, at 5 p.m.
In a statement posted to the county’s Facebook page, officials said the emergency declaration was to make sure necessary resources are in place to respond to the wildfires, which started in Polk County.
“Wildfires in various sections of the county have the potential to threaten life and property. Emergency personnel are prepared to take action to evacuate county residents if necessary and support all efforts toward fire suppression,” leaders said in the announcement.
A burn ban remains in effect in Henderson County.
Tuesday March 25 9 p.m.
Transylvania County Emergency Management issued mandatory evacuations for the residents in the following areas of the Big Hill Community.
- Dolly Masters Road
- Glady Fork Rd
- Lake Honda
- Happy Acres Communities
The Connestee Fire Department is going door to door in those areas to notify residents.
All who are evacuating can report to Cars Hill Church. That will be a temporary location while Transylvania County is working on opening an emergency shelter.
We will be updating evacuation orders as possible for any other affected area.
Tuesday March 25 9 p.m.
Henderson County Emergency Management officials issued mandatory evacuation orders for residents in the following areas of the Summer Haven community:
- Macedonia Road east of Interstate 26
- Skyland Acres Road
- Knight Road
- Summer Haven Lane
- South Fine Way
Tuesday March 25 7 p.m.
NC Forest Service officials held a community meeting to discuss the wildfires.
At the meeting, fire officials said progress has been made on the two largest fires—Black Cove and Deep Woods— even though both are still categorized as 0% contained.
NC Fire Service Official Shane Hardee explained how containment works: firefighters will not declare a line contained unless they are confident that it will hold if they walked away.
He told about 300 community members gathered at Biltmore Church that the southern part of the fires is the most volatile area at the moment.
"Those are the areas that will cause us some challenges tomorrow," he said, pointing to the southeastern parts of the large map displayed at the meeting.
He said he anticipates the winds relenting on Thursday and Friday, but he cautioned that the staff meteorologist does not expect much rain. However, the expected humidity increase should give a better opportunity to battle the fires.
Because the winds are moving from the South, it is unlikely that it will cross I-26, Hardee said, but steep, rugged terrain in the gorge could allow the fire to move under I-26.
Infrared maps created with data collected by aircraft are being used to track the movement of the fires at night, he said.
A Flat Rock resident shared that his home was lost to the fire, but he expressed gratitude to the firefighters for saving his neighbors' homes.
"Hope was the name of the cabin, and hope is a good thing, and no good thing ever dies," he said.
Evacuation process
Fire officials explained the evacuation stages.
People at level 1 (green) should begin making preparations to leave. At level 2 (yellow), there is a high probability of evacuation. In a level 3 (red), residents will be instructed to leave in a specific timeframe and routes will be identified.
Hardee warned that text alerts should be the primary form of communication about an evacuation, and residents should trust those immediate messages over the map which is refreshed less frequently. Firefighters will also go door-to-door to evacuate residents.
Henderson County has opened a shelter at the Parks & Recreation Athletics and Activity Center located at 708 South Grove Street, and the facility shelter permits pets.
Hardy also said the departments greatly appreciates the prior donations, but they do not need any additional contributions.
"I know how giving the people of the mountains of North Carolina are," he said.
A federal grant through FEMA is covering the cost now, he said.
The meeting also provided officials with an opportunity to dispel some rumors about the fires.
Hardee said backburning to hold a line by the Forest Service did not cause a fire that consumed several homes.
A firefighter walked a trail near Pullman Creek and discovered that the fire had crossed the creek near Green River.
The fire was "well over a mile" from where the firefighters were using controlled burns, Hardee said. It was also not near where the Fire Service did any burning on Saturday.
They did set a fire off Big Hungry Road strategically to protect the remaining homes.
"It is very easy to assume different things that you don't understand," he said. "If we had messed up, I would be the first to tell you that we messed up, but we didn't."
One resident said their power was turned off, effectively shutting off their water because it is well that relies on electricity.
Hardee said the Fire Service did not shut the power off. Hardee said fire officials directed Duke Energy to hold off on work on the road to preserve ingress and egress. The Service does close down roads if the fires require it, he said.
Tuesday March 25 at 5:45 p.m.
Two of the three wildfires making their way north from Polk County have grown due to high winds and dry conditions, officials said.
E.J. Dwigans, a public information officer with the North Carolina Forest Service said winds were blowing anywhere from 20-40 mph throughout the day.
" When that occurs you can see fire tornadoes, some pretty extreme fire behavior out there," he said. "Right now it's way too windy to, uh, have any of our aircraft resources come in and so we we're really hoping this wind will die down."
The Black Cove fire is at 3,046 acres and 0% containment. The Deep Woods fire is at 2,923 acres and 0% containment. The Fish Hook fire is at 199 acres and 72% containment.
Transylvania County declared a local state of emergency this afternoon.
Dwigans said the forest service sent crews near the state line as a precaution but, " it looks like that's a little bit less of a concern today."
Tuesday March 25 at 12:45 p.m.
Henderson County has launched an interactive map to show evacuation zones in real-time as the Black Cove fire creeps into the county.
Residents can search the map to find their specific address. The map is color coded by evacuation zones:
Zone 1-Green (Get Ready)
Zone 2-Yellow (Get Set)
Zone 3-Red (Go)
Henderson County residents can also sign up for emergency alerts by clicking here.
Connestee Fire Chief Matthew Owen gave an update this morning about the Table Rock fire that is creeping north from South Carolina towards Transylvania County.
"I want to preface this update by saying there is no reason to panic. Everything in this update is out of an abundance of caution and preparation and NOT impending danger," he wrote.
"There is no immediate threat in North Carolina from the Table Rock Fire, however, there is growing concern," he wrote on Facebook. Forest Service crews from both states have started improving fire lines along the state line.
Owen encouraged residents to help fireproof their homes by blowing leaves away from houses, vehicles and out of gutters.
"The chances of the fire reaching NC are low to moderate and it would likely be a few days before this fire reaches NC if it does in fact make it here," he wrote.
Tuesday March 25 at 10:30am
The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for several counties in Western North Carolina as well as parts of South Carolina and Georgia. Wind and low humidity in the area create hazardous conditions for rapid spread of wildfires.
According to the notice, winds will increase from the west and southwest ahead of a mostly dry cold front.
The winds will shift directions but decrease in intensity later tonight.
The notice, which is in place until 9 p.m., includes the following locations: Cherokee, Rabun, Anderson, Habersham, Stephens, Franklin, Hart, Buncombe, Catawba, Transylvania, Henderson, Cleveland, Lincoln, Gaston, Oconee Mountains, Pickens Mountains, Greenville Mountains, Greater Oconee, Greater Pickens, Central Greenville, Southern Greenville, Northern Spartanburg, Southern Spartanburg, Greater Caldwell,
Burke Mountains, Greater Burke, McDowell Mountains, Eastern McDowell, Rutherford Mountains, Greater Rutherford, Polk
Mountains and Eastern Polk.
A burn ban remains in effect across the state.
Monday March 24 at 7:15 p.m.
The trio of fires southeast of Asheville have stretched across nearly 6,000 acres.
The Black Cove Fire consumed 2,813 acres and remains 0% contained, according to an update this evening from the NC Forest Service.
The Deep Woods fire is 2,742 acres and remains 0% contained, the update said.
The Fish Hook Fire, which burned 199 acres, is showing some improvement and is 69% contained, according to the update.
According to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 263 firefighters are working to battle the blazes.
Monday March 24 at 6:15 p.m.
The Black Cove Fire is moving into Henderson County along Big Hungry Creek Road where firefighters are attempting to slow the spread of the fire and protect structures, according to a 5 p.m. update from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Polk County has issued 165 evacuation orders at this time and Henderson County has issued 29 evacuation orders.
Polk County has issued evacuation orders for these neighborhoods:
- Green River Cove Road addresses from 1091-1528
- Lady Slipper Trail
- Big Hungry Road
- Spurgeon Cove Lane
- English Heifer Cove Road
- Deer Trail
- Scarlets Mountain Road
- 5079-7265 Holberts Cove Road
- Fox Paw Lane
A shelter has been established at the Polk County Senior Center at 75 Carmel Lane Columbus, NC.
Henderson County issued voluntary evacuations for areas below:
- Laurel Mountain View Road
- Boulder View Road
The county has set up a shelter at the Parks & Recreation Athletics and Activity Center located at 708 South Grove Street, Hendersonville NC 28792.
The Forest Service will host a community information meeting Tuesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. at the Biltmore Church located at 103A Education Drive, Flat Rock, NC 28731.
Monday March 24 at 4:45 p.m.
Part of Highway 9 in Polk County will be closed to through traffic beginning tomorrow through Thursday, March 27, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
"This closure, which will take place between Lake Adger’s subdivision entrance at Garrett Road and Construction Lane, is to permanently repair the cross pipe that was temporarily fixed after Hurricane Helene," according to a post from Polk County officials.
Local residents and emergency vehicles will still have access.
Monday March 24 at 3:15 p.m.
Air quality conditions in Henderson and Transylvania counties have now triggered "code red" alert, officials said in an update Monday afternoon.
Air quality alerts remain in effect across parts of Western North Carolina as wildfires continue to burn in and around Polk County, according to the latest update from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality. A Code Red Air Quality alert has been extended through midnight Monday for Polk County and now also includes Henderson and Transylvania counties, where smoke from these wildfires – including two fires just across the South Carolina border – continues to impact the area. Satellite imagery shows dense smoke drifting from the active fire zones.
A Code Orange alert has also been extended for Rutherford County through Monday night. Meanwhile, Code Yellow alerts are in effect for Buncombe and McDowell counties.
The worst air quality for Rutherford, Transylvania, and Henderson counties is expected through midday Monday, with gradual improvement later in the day as a weather system moves through.
Monday March 24 at 3:15 p.m.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized federal funds to reimburse costs to North Carolina as crews from across the state fight several wildfires in Polk County.
The state submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant on Saturday, March 22.
At the time of the request, the fire threatened more than 240 homes in and around Polk County. Approximately 138 homes have been evacuated.
FEMA Region 4 Administrator Robert D. Samaan approved the state’s request on March 22, as the fire threatened to become a major disaster.
The grants provide federal funding for up to 75% of eligible firefighting costs. Those costs can include expenses for field camps, equipment use, materials, supplies and mobilization, and demobilization activities attributed to fighting the fire.
Monday March 24 at 2:30 p.m.
Air quality alerts remain in effect across parts of Western North Carolina, according to the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality.
A Code Red Air Quality Action Day has been extended through midnight Monday for Polk County, where smoke from multiple wildfires continues to impact the area. Satellite imagery shows dense smoke drifting from the active fire zones.
A Code Orange alert has also been extended for Rutherford County through Monday night. Meanwhile, two new fires just across the South Carolina border are sending smoke into Transylvania, Henderson, and Buncombe counties, prompting alerts there as well.
The worst air quality for Rutherford, Transylvania, and Henderson counties is expected through midday Monday, with gradual improvement later in the day as a weather system moves through.
What do the color codes mean?
The N.C. DEQ uses a color-coded Air Quality Index (AQI) system to help residents understand health risks and plan outdoor activities:
- 🟢 Green (Good): Air quality is clean. No health concerns.
- 🟡 Yellow (Moderate): Air quality is acceptable, but sensitive groups should be cautious.
- 🟠 Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups): Older adults, children, and people with respiratory issues should limit outdoor activities.
- 🔴 Red (Unhealthy): Everyone may begin to experience health effects. Limit outdoor exposure.
- 🟣 Purple (Very Unhealthy): Serious health risks for all. Stay indoors and avoid outdoor activity.
The DEQ monitors daily ozone and fine particle pollution (PM2.5) and updates the AQI forecast by 3 p.m. daily, with morning updates by 10 a.m.
For current air quality updates, visit https://airquality.climate.ncsu.edu/discussion/.
Monday March 24 at 1 p.m.
Three wildfires have burned close to a total of 5,000 acres in mostly remote parts of Polk County in Western North Carolina.
High winds, makeshift roads and countless downed trees left by Hurricane Helene have made fighting the trio of wildfires in Polk County a “nightmare,” county officials said.
Two of the fires – Black Cove and Fish Hook – started because of downed power lines after strong winds last week. The cause of the Deep Woods fire is still under investigation, according to the North Carolina Forest Service.
FEMA has approved North Carolina's request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant as evacuation orders remain in effect for some communities.
Sunday March 23 at 10:30 p.m.
The North Carolina Forest Service issued a statement this evening noting 249 personnel from across the state and other states are working on the three fires in Polk County.
Deep Woods Fire
The Deep Woods Fire has consumed 2,545 acres and is 0% contained, according to the NC Fire Service.
"The fire is burning on state-owned and private land in the Green River Gorge, approximately 2 miles northeast of Saluda," a post from the Fire Service said. "The fire is burning in timber on steep terrain."
Evacuation orders remain in place for the following locations:
- 5079-7265 Holbert Cove Road
- Fox Paw Lane
Black Cove Fire
The Black Cove fire is at 2076 acres and 0% contained, according to the NC Forest Service.
"The fire is burning on state-owned and private land in the Green River Gorge and in the neighboring Holbert Cove community, approximately 5 miles northwest of Columbus," according to a Fire Service post.
"Firefighters are providing structure protection on the southern end of the fire and are preventing its spread to the south of Holbert Cove Road," the post said.
"To prevent the fire from spreading into neighborhoods and inhabited areas to the west of the fire, firefighting personnel are constructing control lines on both sides of the river," according to a statement from the Forest Service.
Evacuation orders remain in place for the following locations:
- Green River Cove Road addresses from 1091 to 1528
- Lady Slipper Trail
- Big Hungry Road
- Spurgeon Cove Lane
- English Heifer Cove Road
- Deer Trail
- Scarlets Mountain Road
Fish Hook Fire
The Fish Hook Fire is currently at 199 acres and 50% contained.
The fire has not grown or spread in the last 24 hours, but acreage estimates have changed due to more accurate mapping, according to the Fire Service.
"The fire is burning on private land near Lake Adger, approximately 5 miles northwest of Mill Spring," the Fire Service posted. "Forward progress of the fire has been stopped. Firefighting personnel continue to secure firebreaks along the edges of the fire and extinguish smoldering fuels."
The post said officials expect containment to increase in the coming days, and firefighters will stay on the scene until there is no longer a threat.
Sunday March 23 at 5:00 p.m.
More evacuations ordered
Officials have issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents who live on Big Hungry Road, Spurgeon Cove Lane, English Heifer Cove Road, Deer Trail and Scarlets Mountain Road.
Evacuees may go to the shelter located at 75 Carmel Lane in Columbus.
Residents who need to evacuate with pets or large animals can receive assistance from Animal Services by calling 828-817-7984.
State response
Governor Josh Stein issued a statement about the conditions in Polk County:
"I’m concerned about the wildfires in Polk County, where people are already struggling due to Mother Nature. I thank FEMA for approving North Carolina’s Fire Management Assistance Grant. Stay safe and please continue to listen to emergency guidance around evacuation orders. Visit readync.gov for more info."
Justin Graney, Chief of External Affairs for the state's Emergency Management office also issued a statement:
"The State Emergency Response Team, which remains engaged for Helene Recovery, has been engaged in Polk County since these fires began.
The North Carolina Forest Service has personnel and an incident management team on scene. The North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal has personnel on scene and has assisted with coordinating the deployment of firefighting resources from other counties to assist, and North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) has assisted with deploying personnel, issuing evacuation orders on behalf of the county utilizing the Wireless Emergency Alert network, and deploying communications equipment to Polk County.
Additionally, NCEM has activated the North Carolina Helo-Aquatic Rescue Team (NCHART) which is comprised on NCEM and aviation assets from the NC National Guard and NC State Highway Patrol to rapidly extract any firefighters that become trapped or injured while fighting these wildfires.
There are no impediments to the state’s ability to respond and to assist Polk County and close coordination will continue.
Finally, the State proactively requested a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) which was approved last night. More information will be coming out over the next day on that approval."
Windstream says no outages
At the community meeting Sunday afternoon, a resident expressed concern about a Windstream outage that could hinder emergency communications.
A representative from Windstream told BPR there are no network outages in Polk County.
"Out of an abundance of caution we checked with the 911 administrative office this afternoon, and they confirmed that they are not experiencing any issues with callers using the Windstream network," the spokesperson wrote.
Customers who experience an individual issue should call Windstream at 1-800-347-1991.
Sunday March 23 at 3:00 p.m.
BPR livestreamed the Polk County community meeting today which took place at the commissioners' chambers in Columbus. Officials shared details about the status of the three fires currently threatening the area.
"These conditions we are facing right now are not like anything we have seen in the past," Emergency Management Director and Fire Marshal Bobby Arledge said at the meeting.
The debris from Hurricane Helene created a "nightmare" scenario, according to Arledge.
"We are trying to get as many resources in as we can," he said.
The county declared a state of emergency and has requested that the area be designated a FEMA disaster area. County officials are also in conversation with state officials, including the governor's office, about the state declaring a state of emergency.
Shane Hardee, who is part of the North Carolina Forest Service Incident team, explained how state resources are being used to assist in the fires.
"We brought in folks from all over the country," he said. Crews came from Alabama, Michigan, Tennessee, Oregon, Washington and California.
There is competition for resources because there are wildfires raging across Florida.
"The challenge is that those needs are great everywhere in the Southeast right now," he said.
Several houses have been destroyed in the fires, Arledge said. "I don't know how we didn't lose more," he said.
As the fires stretch into a fourth day, local crews are reaching capacity.
"Local resources are worn thin, trying to fight this fire since Wednesday," Arledge said. Hardee agreed, noting the difficulties in hiring and retaining firefighters.
"We don't have the capacity we once had," he said.
While planes and helicopters are useful tools to slow and cool fires, they don't replace the need for firefighters on the ground, Hardee said.
Beginning as early as tonight, there will be more extensive aerial mapping of the fires, he said.
One of the top priorities is structure protection, NC Forest Service Operations Section Chief Brian Rogers told the crowd.
Firefighters are using dozer lines to contain the fires, he said. The lines are paths constructed by bulldozers or other equipment to remove flammable vegetation.
He said he anticipates keeping the Fish Hook Fire under control and monitored. We are feeling really confident about where we are on Fish Hook," he said.
Residents asked about receiving more frequent communication and expressed frustration at the lack of information. Several said they were not receiving messages and had to rely on social media or word-of-mouth to get the latest details.
The county is using geotagging to send text message notifications to residents in affected areas, Polk County Public Information Officer Kelly Cannon said.
About 200 community members lined the pews and aisles of the courthouse venue.
"This is one of the highest attendances I've ever had in person," Hardee, who has attended meetings in California and other places with severe wildfires, said.
Evacuation orders
There is a mandatory evacuation for 5079-7265 Holberts Cove Road on North Side and Fox Paw Lane. There is also an evacuation order for Green River Cove address from 1091-1528 and all of Lady Slipper Trail.
Evacuees may go to the shelter located at 75 Carmel Lane in Columbus.
Residents who need to evacuate with pets or large animals can receive assistance from Animal Services, according to a Facebook post from Polk County Government.
"If you need help loading, trailering, transporting or housing large animals or are evacuating and need a place for your pets, please call Patti Lovelace at 828-817-7984."
The evacuation order has been lifted for the Fish Hook Fire in Lake Adger Subdivision. Residents from the Lake Adger subdvision can safely return to their homes, according to the Polk County Emergency Management.
Local officials are asking residents not to bring donations to fire stations but to instead drop them at one of two designated locations: Foothills Community Church at 2720 Landrum Road in Columbus or Friendship Baptist Church at Friendship Church Road in Saluda.
More than 3,000 acres on fire
Wildfires have spread to more than 4,000 acres in Polk County, forcing residents to evacuate and diminishing air quality in the area. Several parts of the fires have containment features, but the service does not declare a line contained until they are very confident that it will hold, Hardy said on Sunday.
See a map of the wildfire areas.
The Black Cove Fire started along Green River Cove Road and was caused by a downed power line, according to North Carolina Forest Service Public Information Officer E.J. Dwigans.
The fire was 1,239 acres with 0% containment, as of Sunday morning.
The Deep Woods Fire spread to 1,730 acres and remained 0% contained Sunday morning.
One house was a complete loss and two structures were damaged, according to Cannon.
The initial cause is still under investigation, Dwigans told BPR.
The Fish Hook Fire started Thursday evening because of a downed power line, he said.
The fire consumed 199 acres and is 50% contained, according to Dwigans. Three houses were lost and one structure was damaged, Cannon said.
Reports of a fourth fire were incorrect. The blaze was part of the Black Cove Fire.
High wind, lack of humidity and lack of rain created dangerous conditions for wildfires, Dwigans said.
Silver Creek Baptist Church in Mill Spring served as the command post but Dwigans said firefighters will move to a larger facility, the Tryon Equestrian Center, on Sunday morning.
The North Carolina Forest Service is running the containment efforts with assistance from multiple fire departments including Avery County, Henderson County, Charlotte, Waynesville and Saluda departments. More than 450 firefighters are working to contain the fires, Cannon said in an update Saturday evening.
Debris and weather compound challenges
The blazes come as the state Agriculture Commissioner issued a statewide burn ban due to dry conditions.
Without a change in weather conditions, officials said, it could be days before the fires are contained.
"It's not really working out for us," Dwigans said Saturday afternoon.
Downed trees from Hurricane Helene are also hindering firefighting efforts.
“The main impact that we're seeing is access issues,” he told BPR on Friday. “Our crews are having to spend a lot of time cutting through down trees with chainsaws just to get to where the fire is to begin to establish containment lines. Our crews are spent by the time they even get into these fires. Some of the bridges and roads that we see on older topo maps are no longer available to us.”
In addition to access challenges, debris remaining from the storm provides ready fuel for the fires.
"This area of Green River Cove road was hit very hard during Hurricane Helene," Cannon told BPR on Saturday. "There was a lot of vegetative debris that was on the ground."
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been working on removing the debris, she said.
Diminished air quality
The state Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality issued a Code Red air quality action day alert on Saturday.
"Prolonged exposure to the air may be unhealthy for anyone," the alert cautions. "All residents should consider limiting prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. Anyone sensitive to air pollution, including children, older adults and people with asthma, should avoid outdoor exertion."
The division offers suggestions for managing poor air quality including creating a clean room and using DIY air cleaners.
Earlier evacuations
Polk County Fire Marshal Bobby Arledge issued mandatory evacuations for the following communities as of 12:35pm on Friday due to the Deep Woods Fire:
- Deep Woods Lane
- Wesley Lane
- Piney Overlook Lane
- Piney Gate Rd
- Gamelands Trail
- Oakview Lane
- Volley Way
- Charity Branch Drive
- Windsong Ln
- Moonshine Trace
The Fish Hook fire, in the same region, forced evacuations earlier today in the following communities:
- Lake Adger Rd from Regan Jackson Rd to Highland View Ln
- Parkway North from Lake Adger Rd to North Park Ln
- North Park Ln
- North Boundary Rd
