North Raleigh Today

Rainfall on Monday has enabled fire crews in Polk and Henderson counties to strengthen containment of the Black Cove Complex wildfires, currently affecting a total of 7,670 acres. The fires are divided into the Black Cove, Deep Woods, and Fish Hook sites, which are showing varying levels of containment.

The Black Cove fire, originating from a powerline, spans 3,502 acres and is 93% contained. The Deep Woods fire is larger at 3,969 acres, with containment at 60%, and its cause remains under investigation. Fish Hook, the smallest at 199 acres, is fully contained and also attributed to a powerline.

In total, 371 personnel and 45 engines are engaged in containment and suppression efforts. The recent rain has helped lower fire behavior, allowing crews to focus on repairing fire lines and preventing erosion caused by the heavy rainfall. Safety is paramount as they manage slick conditions while navigating the fire lines.

The level of evacuations is subject to ongoing assessment in response to the fire activity. Current updates about evacuations can be found on the Polk and Henderson County websites.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) remains in place to safeguard firefighting efforts. This restriction extends up to 5,500 feet in altitude and is crucial to ensuring the safety of aerial operations. The presence of drones poses significant risks to both pilots and those on the ground.

Governor Josh Stein declared a State of Emergency on March 26, which aims to enhance the state's response capabilities to the ongoing wildfires in Western North Carolina. Additionally, a statewide ban on open burning has been enforced since March 21, canceling all current permits and halting the issuance of new ones until further notice.

For updates on wildfire activity across North Carolina, the public can use the North Carolina Wildfire Public Viewer available online. Additionally, individuals can subscribe to updates from the N.C. Forest Service covering related topics.