Three wildfires remain active in Polk County, western North Carolina, where officials reported more than 5,000 acres of forested land have already burned.
Two of the fires, the Black Cow and Deep Woods, have not been contained and have forced the evacuation of residents of several rural communities near the Green River Gorge. The third, the Fish Cook fire, is 50 percent contained.
The fires are developing in a region that has not yet recovered from the impact of the Hurricane HeleneCurrent conditions—strong winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation—have increased the risk of spread.
In addition to the evacuations, five counties are under air quality alerts. Local and state authorities have deployed personnel and resources to contain active outbreaks, while monitoring at-risk residential areas continues.
“We know that many people are concerned, and we continue to work to provide accurate and up-to-date information every day.” said Kelly Cannon this morning, Polk County Public Information Officer.
"The incident management team has been expanded, and we will be issuing maps and daily communications as the situation evolves," he said.
How did the fires start?
The fires in Polk County were first reported on Tuesday, March 19, according to the North Carolina Forest ServiceSince then, the fires—now identified as Black Cove, Deep Woods, and Fish Hook—have rapidly advanced through state- and privately owned forested land, in hard-to-reach areas and through dry vegetation.
Faced with this situation, and the adverse conditions in the state due to the lack of rain and debris accumulated in the forests after Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina Forest Service imposed a total ban on open burning in all 100 counties in the state, effective from March 21 until further notice.
Black Cove Fire
Reported on March 19, it has burned 2,076 acres and is uncontained. It affects state and private lands near the Green River Gorge, northeast of Saluda. Over the weekend, the fire crossed into Henderson County.
Teams work on building control lines to prevent it from spreading to inhabited areas west of the river. Mandatory evacuations are in effect on several rural routes, including Green River Cove Road and Big Hungry Road.
Deep Woods Fire
Also started on March 19, the fire spans 2,545 acres in the Holbert Cove community, about 8 kilometers northwest of Columbus. The fire is burning in steep terrain with vegetation that has accumulated since Hurricane Helene, complicating control efforts.
Crews are focusing on protecting homes south of the fire and preventing it from crossing Holbert Cove Road. The fire is out of containment, and evacuation orders remain in effect.
Fish Hook Fire
This fire was detected on March 20 on private land near Lake Adger, about 8 miles from Mill Spring. It has burned 199 acres and is 50% contained.
Crews have managed to stop the fire's spread and are now focusing on reinforcing firebreaks and removing burning materials from the fire's edges. Evacuations associated with this fire have been lifted, but the area remains under surveillance.
State coordination and federal support
State authorities maintain a unified command in Polk County, with participation from the North Carolina Forest Service, and the Polk and Henderson emergency management departments. More than 260 people are working on the response effort.
The area affected by the fires had already been severely hit by Hurricane Helene six months ago, and remains riddled with debris and structural damage. This overlapping disaster has complicated the work of emergency teams.
The state activated additional resources, including a specialized air rescue team (NCHART), emergency telecommunications technicians, and inter-county support. A federal FMAG grant was also approved to cover part of the operating costs.
Stay informed
The fires in Polk County remain active and under constant monitoring. Authorities will provide daily updates on the fire's progress, new evacuations, and safety conditions.
To track the current status of the fires and view official maps, visit:
- North Carolina Wildfire Public Viewer
- Polk County – active evacuations
- Readync.gov – emergency preparedness
- Resistwildfirenc.org – how to protect your home
It is also recommended to keep the emergency alerts on your cell phone to receive official notifications from local authorities.
PODCAST
After the storm
A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity.
🎧 In this episode, learn how Latino organizations transformed crisis into resilience.
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