Wildfires Scorch Western North Carolina Amid Post-Helene Recovery

 As of March 31, 2025, Western North Carolina is grappling with multiple wildfires that have burned thousands of acres, compounding the region’s challenges six months after Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact. The North Carolina Forest Service reports that dry conditions, high winds, and debris left by the hurricane have fueled the rapid spread of these fires, particularly in Polk, Henderson, and Swain counties, where some of the largest blazes remain active.

In Polk County, the Black Cove Complex—a trio of fires including the Black Cove, Deep Woods, and Fish Hook fires—has emerged as a major concern. The Black Cove Fire, which started on March 19 due to a downed power line, has spread across 3,502 acres and is only 36% contained. Spanning Polk and Henderson counties near Saluda, this fire has been marked by intense behavior driven by steep terrain and dry weather. The nearby Deep Woods Fire, also in Polk County near Saluda, covers 3,231 acres with just 11% containment, while the Fish Hook Fire, burning 199 acres near Mill Spring, has reached 100% containment.

Nearly 250 firefighting personnel from across North Carolina and beyond are working tirelessly to protect structures and halt the fires’ advance, despite challenges posed by fallen timber from Hurricane Helene clogging access routes.

Further west, the Alarka Five Fire in Swain County has consumed 911 acres near the Alarka Highlands and remains at 0% containment. Ignited amid the same dry conditions, this blaze threatens rugged, forested areas still reeling from September’s storm damage. Meanwhile, in Haywood County, the Rattlesnake Branch Fire has charred between 400 and 500 acres on private land and within the Shining Rock Wilderness Area of Pisgah National Forest. Reported on March 26, it too stands at 0% containment, prompting a full public closure of the wilderness area for safety and firefighting access.

The fires come as Western North Carolina navigates an unusually active spring wildfire season, exacerbated by Helene’s aftermath. The hurricane, which struck in September 2024, left behind millions of downed trees and branches, creating a tinderbox of fuel that has intensified fire behavior. A fuels and fire behavior advisory from the Southern Area Coordination Center highlights low humidity and warm temperatures as key factors, noting that even green vegetation is burning aggressively after minimal drying. Across the state, the North Carolina Forest Service has responded to nearly 90 confirmed fires on national forest land since January 1, 2025, with 48 wildfires burning 97.7 acres on private and state-owned land in a single day, March 29, according to preliminary Signal 14 data.

Evacuations have disrupted communities already stretched thin. In Polk County, mandatory orders have displaced hundreds, with a shelter established at the Polk County Senior Center in Columbus. Air quality alerts, ranging from Code Red to Code Purple, have warned residents to limit outdoor activity as smoke blankets the region. Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency on March 27 for 34 western counties, unlocking federal resources to aid firefighting efforts. A statewide burn ban, in place since earlier this month, remains in effect to curb additional fire risks.

Despite the scale of the crisis, no deaths have been reported, though four homes in Polk County have been destroyed. Firefighters are employing controlled burns, firebreaks, and aerial support to slow the blazes, with containment expected to improve in the coming days. The National Weather Service forecasts light precipitation this weekend, but not enough to douse the fires outright, leaving crews and residents on edge as the region battles yet another natural challenge in the wake of Helene’s lingering scars.