A wildfire in Henderson County, North Carolina, has destroyed two homes and damaged another, and is threatening another 75 structures, officials say. 

The Poplar Drive Fire, about 20 southeast of Asheville, has spread to more than 430 acres and is 5% contained, according to the North Carolina Forest Service. Henderson County has declared a state of emergency and asked nearby residents to evacuate. 

What You Need To Know

  •  A wildfire in Henderson County has destroyed four buildings and damaged another, officials said

  •  The Poplar Drive Fire is more than 430 acres and 5% contained, according to the fire service

  •  Another 75 structures are threatened and county officials say residents in the containment lines should evacuate

  • Henderson County declared a state of emergency Sunday 

"There have been a total of 1 home damaged, 2 homes destroyed, 1 outbuilding destroyed, and 1 uninhabited cabin destroyed," the county said on social media Monday morning. 

The Forest Service banned open burning and canceled all burn permits in 14 counties in western North Carolina. 

“Several counties in Western North Carolina are currently in a severe drought, and we are seeing wildfire activity increase due to dry conditions," Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in a news release Sunday. 

"Because dry conditions are expected to continue this burn ban is necessary to reduce the risk of fires starting and spreading quickly. Our top priority is always to protect lives, property and forestland across the state,” he said.

The N.C. Forest Service and U.S. Forest Service are working to contain the fire. Local fire departments from around the region are on the scene to protect the dozens of homes and other buildings within the fire containment lines, officials said. 

Henderson County is under a code orange air quality alert because of smoke from the fire, meaning it is unhealthy for sensitive groups, state officials said. 

No one has been hurt in the fire, the Forest Service said. Officials say they cause of the fire is still under investigation. 

Henderson County is asking people to avoid the area as crews work to contain the fire. An incident management team from the North Carolina Forest Service is set to take over operations on Monday. 

“This afternoon the County declared a State of Emergency in support of our partner Volunteer Fire Departments and the Sheriff’s Office,” Henderson County Manager John Mitchell said in a statement Sunday. “The declaration will give the County the tools we need to protect life and property.  It will also provide the opportunity to seek additional State and Federal resources to support our partner agencies.”