The Black Cove Complex, encompassing several fires in Polk and Henderson counties, North Carolina, is nearing complete containment as firefighters benefit from favorable weather conditions. Recent rain has been instrumental in advancing firefighting efforts, allowing crews to progress rapidly under damp conditions.
The Black Cove Complex is comprised of the Black Cove fire at 3,502 acres, the Deep Woods fire at 3,969 acres, and the Fish Hook fire at 199 acres. Their containment levels are reported at 97%, 79%, and 100% respectively. The causes of these fires have been identified as powerline-related for Black Cove and Fish Hook, while the cause of the Deep Woods fire remains under investigation.
Resources deployed include 23 engines and a total personnel count of 365.
Command over the firefighting efforts will transition from the North Carolina Forest Service Red Incident Management Team to a Type 4 Incident Management Team on a local district basis. This will occur after Thursday, with incoming resources set to shadow the current team to maintain progress consistency.
Repair work and mop-up operations will persist across the fire complex as part of the containment efforts. There is an expectation of warmer temperatures over the weekend, which may reveal areas that continue to smolder. Light smoke is anticipated as firefighters work to identify and extinguish remaining hotspots.
The North Carolina Forest Service expressed gratitude to the surrounding communities and partner agencies that include local emergency management teams and law enforcement, the Office of State Fire Marshal, and North Carolina Emergency Management for their support throughout the incident.
This announcement marks the final update on the Black Cove Complex unless there are significant changes in conditions. Evacuations are being continuously assessed and current notices can be found on the respective Polk and Henderson County websites.
A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place from the surface up to 5,500 feet to ensure the safety of firefighting aircraft and ground personnel. Drones pose serious safety risks and their unauthorized presence could impede firefighting operations.
Governor Josh Stein declared a State of Emergency on March 26 to enhance the state’s response capabilities to the wildfires in Western North Carolina.
For ongoing information on wildfires and related updates in North Carolina, resources are available through the North Carolina Forest Service’s website and subscription services.
