Catastrophic Wildfires in Carolinas Torch Over 6000 Acres, Triggering Evacuations, Fire Bans, and National Guard Mobilization
Scorching Wildfires Threaten Western North Carolina
Raging wildfires, whipped up by high winds and stifling heat, are swiftly engulfing vast swaths of western North Carolina, increasing the risk of further devastation in areas already ravaged by Hurricane Helene. Carolina Forest Service representative Jeremy Waldrop, speaking to CNN affiliate WLOS, remarked, "Never seen this much fuel on the ground in my 20-year career."
While the official count of impacted residents is yet to be determined, a shelter has been established in Columbus, North Carolina. Waldrop further stated, "A lot of heavy fuels we've seen on the ground currently."
As South Carolina has proclaimed a state of emergency due to the raging fires, both states are grappling with similar containment issues thanks to downed timber from Hurricane Helene. In North Carolina, footage acquired by WLOS reveals scorched and charred forests burdened with flames, with multiple helicopters casting water onto thick smoke clouds from above.
A mandatory evacuation was announced Saturday night for parts of Polk County, home to roughly 20,000 people, 80 miles west of Charlotte. Melissa Holland, a resident of this region, expressed her concerns about information dissemination at a recent community meeting. "We don't have the best internet and cell service here," she explained. "It's very spotty."
As of Sunday night, the Black Cove Fire, located two miles northeast of Saluda, North Carolina, had spread across over 2,000 acres, while the Deep Woods Fire, 5 miles northwest of Columbus, is estimated at a staggering 2,500 acres. Both fires remain uncontained. The Fish Hook Fire, nestled on private land near Lake Adger, was recently assessed at less than 200 acres, and all evacuation orders related to the fire were rescinded on Sunday night.
The North Carolina Forest Service announced that 249 personnel from various regions, including the state, were employed to combat the three wildfires. "Containment is expected to increase in the coming days, and firefighters will remain on scene until the fire no longer poses a threat," the service stated.
The battle against the wildfires has claimed four homes thus far, and a code red air quality alert has been issued. In North Carolina, a code red alert means that extended exposure to air could potentially be unhealthy for anyone. In South Carolina, Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency as fire crews strove to manage two wildfires in separate counties.
The Table Rock Fire in Pickens County, South Carolina, initiated on Friday, has swollen to more than 1,300 acres. Similarly, the Persimmon Ridge Fire, in Greenville County - the most populous in the state - stretched to 800 acres by Sunday evening. At least six aircraft will be deployed for water-dropping missions, including one Chinook and two Black Hawks from the state's National Guard, and two Fire Bosses from the Forestry Commission to quell the conflagrations. Both fires were determined to be human-caused. Local fire officials have urged voluntary evacuations at residences east of Table Rock State Park. Initial estimates indicate 100 homes have been evacuated.
The South Carolina National Guard has released footage depicting efforts to combat the simultaneous wildfires. One clip showcases a CH-47 Chinook helicopter expending water over a scorched patch of the Persimmon Fire, while another video, filmed from a National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk, captures towering clouds of smoke rising from the hills where the Table Rock Fire ignited. The South Carolina National Guard disclosed that Forestry Commission firefighters planned to carry out operations in the area, focusing on reinforcing firebreaks, purging hazardous trees, and igniting control lines to suppress the fire.
"Spot fires keep igniting outside the original fire zone," the Forestry Commission stated. "An excessive amount of downed timber from Hurricane Helene has heightened the fuel supply on the hills," exacerbating the situation.
Last September, Hurricane Helene was responsible for the destruction of over 5,000 miles of state-maintained roads and 7,000 private roads, bridges, and culverts in North Carolina according to the Associated Press. A cold front moving east from Texas this week is predicted to offer some relief to firefighters in the Carolinas by Monday morning. The concerted precipitation is projected to be relatively brief, starting as early as 9 a.m. and lasting until around noon, although rainfall amounts are not expected to be substantial. Regardless, any rainfall will aid in mitigating the ongoing wildfires' spread.
However, the forecast suggests that this will be the only spell of wet weather anticipated this week, with the following round of rainfall not expected until a weekend storm affects eastern states.
CNN's Robert Shackelford and Martin Goillandeau contributed to this report
Insights:
- The Creek, Holloway, Burntwood, Rocky Hollow, Fletcher, Cooper, and Nottely wildfires in North Carolina have also caused destruction, but the Black Cove, Deep Woods, and Fish Hook Fires are currently the most significant.
- The heavy fuel, resulting from extensive vegetation loss due to Hurricane Helene, significantly fuels these wildfires, making them challenging to contain.
- To tackle communication issues and increase alerts' efficiency, Polk County is switching from Nixel to the Everbridge system. Geotagging ensures targeted notifications to residents in affected regions. Community meetings are organized for up-to-date information exchange.
- The ongoing wildfires in Greenville, South Carolina, from the Persimmon Ridge Fire, are estimated to have spread across 800 acres.
- The weather conditions in western North Carolina are worsening, as the humidity levels are dropping, and the fires are reportedly strengthening.
- The North Carolina Forest Service reported that the Black Cove Fire, located two miles northeast of Saluda, North Carolina, had been fueled significantly by the downed timber remnants from Hurricane Helene, which passed through the region last year.
