Polk County Wildfires: Evacuation Orders In Place As Black Cove, Deep Woods, And Fish Hook Fires Burn 5,700 Acres | Particulars

Three wildfires are at the moment burning throughout western Polk County, North Carolina, with minimal containment as of Monday morning. The fires, named Black Cove, Deep Woods, and Fish Hook, have collectively scorched 5,754 acres. The Black Cove Hearth has burned 2,813 acres and stays 0% contained. Positioned simply west of the Inexperienced River north of Interstate 26, this hearth has pressured a number of evacuations, together with areas between 1091 and 1528 Inexperienced River Cove Highway.

Evacuation orders additionally embody properties on Woman Slipper Path, Massive Hungry Highway, Spurgeon Cove Lane, English Heifer Cove, Deer Path, and Scarlets Mountain Highway. Voluntary evacuations are in place for residents of Laurel Mountain View Highway and Boulder View Highway in Henderson County. The fireplace, which began because of a downed energy line on March 19, has additionally crossed into Henderson County close to Massive Hungry River.

The Deep Woods Hearth, positioned on the east facet of the Inexperienced River, simply northeast of the Black Cove Hearth, has burned 2,742 acres with 0% containment. This hearth is burning within the Inexperienced River Gorge and the Holbert Cove group, round 5 miles northwest of Columbus. Evacuations have been ordered for the north facet of Holbert Cove Highway between 5079 and 7625, and all of Fox Paw Lane. Not less than one constructing and two outbuildings have been destroyed, with one further constructing broken. The reason for the hearth stays unknown.

The Fish Hook Hearth is the smallest of the three, burning 199 acres with 50% containment. Positioned close to Lake Adger, about 5 miles northwest of Mill Spring, this hearth has brought on the lack of at the very least six buildings. The Fish Hook Hearth, just like the others, was began by a downed energy line, but it surely at the moment has no lively evacuation orders.

Firefighting Efforts and Challenges

Efforts are focused on the Black Cove and Deep Woods fires. Each fires are burning in distant areas, hindered by particles and downed bushes from Hurricane Helene. There are issues over entry, with slender, restricted roads complicating firefighting operations.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Workplace has elevated patrols in evacuation areas to make sure public security whereas urging individuals to keep away from the hearth zones to permit emergency responders to work effectively. Roughly 263 personnel from North Carolina and different states are actively battling the fires.