North Carolina wildfire crews are battling a growing number of fires across the state, and a new blaze in Avery County has already shut down part of a local road as aircraft work overhead.
Emergency officials said the latest fire was reported in Elk Park near the Carter County line. The wildfire has burned about 30 acres and remains 0% contained.
Because of the danger, Little Elk Road is closed to local traffic while crews try to stop the fire’s spread. Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are also working the area, and officials are warning people not to fly drones or private aircraft near the fire zone.
The Elk Park fire is only part of a much larger problem. Other major fires are also burning across western North Carolina as dry weather and wind continue to fuel dangerous conditions.
In McDowell County, the Jumping Branch Fire in the Buck Creek community has grown to about 175 acres and is also 0% contained. The U.S. Forest Service is assisting the North Carolina Forest Service, local fire departments, and McDowell County Emergency Management there.
Meanwhile, the Poplar Fire in Mitchell County has burned about 350 acres and is reported at 80% containment. Another wildfire in Wilkes County has burned around 140 acres.
As conditions worsened, the North Carolina Forest Service issued a statewide burn ban effective 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28, canceling all burning permits and prohibiting open burning until further notice. State officials said the ban was necessary because of drought, hazardous fire weather, and limited rainfall prospects. Under North Carolina law, violators can face a $100 fine plus $183 in court costs, and anyone responsible for starting a fire may also be liable for firefighting costs.
According to the North Carolina Forest Service, there are now more than 100 wildfires burning statewide, with more than 1,000 acres already on fire.
For North Carolina residents, the message is clear. The fire threat is growing fast, and even a small outdoor spark could quickly become a major wildfire.
