Two wildfires in western North Carolina have burned about 1,866 acres combined and prompted an evacuation order for McDowell County residents.
The Bee Rock Creek Fire near the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Little Switzerland began Tuesday, and by midday Friday, the U.S. Forest Service estimated it at 856 acres and 10% contained. The fire has grown by about 300 acres since Thursday.
An evacuation order was issued Tuesday evening for Wild Acres Road, including Wild Acres Retreat, south of Little Switzerland, McDowell County Emergency Management said. It remained in effect Friday.
About 180 firefighters and three helicopters are battling the blaze, officials said, with a focus on protecting homes and the Armstrong Fish Hatchery.
Crews on Friday were preparing a potential containment line along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Officials said no structures have been lost, and no injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Authorities asked anyone needing emergency shelter to call 828-652-3241.
McDowell County is just east of Buncombe County in western North Carolina.
Farther west, in the Nantahala National Forest, the Haoe Fire was burning about 1,010 acres as of Friday, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Officials said the fire, reported on Saturday, was started by lightning.
The fire is about 7 miles west of Robbinsville in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness, near the border with Tennessee.
Officials asked people to avoid the area while crews work to contain the fire and on Wednesday expanded closures to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Loop Trail and Recreation Area.
State environmental officials issued air quality alerts for Graham and McDowell counties through Friday. Smoke from the two wildfires created Code Orange conditions, meaning sensitive populations such as older adults, younger children and those with respiratory conditions could be affected.
Several counties in the mountain region saw an outburst of wildfire activity last month during prolonged dry and windy conditions, burning thousands of acres.
