Firefighters continue to try to contain three wildfires in western North Carolina. Crews are facing challenges with dry weather and mountainous terrain.
State officials on Wednesday extended a burn ban to cover 30 counties in the mountains and east to Interstate 77.
Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency Wednesday for 33 counties in response to the wildfires and drought conditions.
“I am grateful for the first responders who have jumped into action to help combat the ongoing wildfires in Western North Carolina,” the governor said. “The fires and the continued droughts across the state pose a risk to public health and safety and we want to ensure that all residents and their property remain safe and protected."
Crews in Watauga County fought several fires Wednesday, officials said. The biggest is east of Boone in the Triplett community, where a fire burned about 225 acres around the Powder Horn Mountain development, according to the N.C. Forest Service.
The Forest Service listed that fire as still active and 10% contained as of Thursday morning. Photos shared by people in the community showed flames in the wooded area as firefighters worked to protect structures and build fire lines.
There is rain in the forecast for the area Friday, but Spectrum News 1 meteorologists say it may not be enough to help with the dry conditions.
"Most mountain spots will only get maybe 0.1” or so of rain tomorrow. There’s another rain chance Sunday which, if it verifies, could drop maybe 0.25” or so," Meteorologist Matthew East said. "There is certainly not enough rain coming to put a dent in the drought, but some extremely short term aid against the wildfires could occur."
The Poplar Drive Fire in Henderson County, about 20 miles southeast of Asheville, covers 431 acres and is threatening dozens of homes and other structures.
The fire has stayed in the same footprint for several days, according to the North Carolina Forest Service, giving crews the chance to build containment lines.
The fire is about 15% contained, state officials said.
“One home, an outbuilding, and an uninhabited cabin have been lost, while another home sustained damage,” the Forest Service said Wednesday. “Homes remain threatened in and along the area of the fire.”
Two firefighters have had minor injuries in the blaze, the Forest Service said. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
State officials said more than 220 people are working to fight the fire and protect homes along the containment lines.
The Collett Ridge Fire in Cherokee County, in the southwestern corner of North Carolina, has been burning since Oct. 23. The fire continues to grow and now covers more than 4,300 acres in Nantahala National Forest, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The Forest Service said the fire is 0% contained and great by about 1,400 acres since Tuesday.
“The fire is burning is very steep, forested, and remote terrain making it very difficult to access directly,” the Forest Service said.
State and federal agencies have crews on the ground, along with helicopters and a plane, working to contain the fire.
“The fire continued to grow, mainly to the southwest and southeast along the ridgeline,” the Forest Service said. “Multiple aircraft were used to slow the progression of the fire.”
“Very Large Air Tankers (VLATs) dropped 12,000 gallons of retardant on the southwestern corner and a helicopter was used to perform water drops on the southeastern corner. By slowing the fire spread, this provides firefighters time to establish containment lines,” the Forest Service said.
The North Carolina Division of Air Quality has issued a Code Red air quality alert for Cherokee, Clay and Macon counties because of smoke from the fire. There is a Code Orange alert for Swain County and some other areas in western North Carolina.
The East Fork Fire in Jackson County, about 50 miles west of Asheville, has been burning since Nov. 4.
The fire has burned about 300 acres and is 80% contained as of the last update Wednesday from the Forest Service.
“Fire behavior is very active and is burning in steep and rugged terrain,” the Forest Service said. “Firefighters are working on establishing containment lines around the fire and conducting burn out operations where terrain and weather conditions allow.”
The Forest Service said there are a few structures in the area that could be threatened by the fire and crews are working to protect them.