Evacuations lifted after fire crews contain more than half of wildfire east of Asheville
Residents in a rural Western North Carolina community returned to their homes Thursday morning, a day after a wildfire in McDowell County forced them to evacuate.
The fire started Wednesday afternoon after a tree fell on a power line near 4131 Bat Cave Road in Old Fort, according to a county government news release. High winds caused the fire to spread around the Crooked Creek community and prompted road closures.
Evacuation orders were lifted after fire crews worked throughout the night Wednesday, containing 55% of the fire that burned 250 acres, according to the North Carolina Forest Service, which tracks the acreage of wildfires on its website.
“Emergency crews made significant progress overnight as winds diminished and relative humidity increased leading to lower fire activity,” a press release said.
Evacuation orders were lifted for the following areas:
- 3000 block to 4500 block of Bat Cave Road
- Pine Cove Road
- Roy Moore Road
- Cherry Springs Road
- Julia Drive
Those living in the 1000 block of Lavender Road and all of Cozy Drive were also able to return to their homes.
One home was damaged and several outbuildings were destroyed by the fires, the county said, but there were no injuries or fatalities as of Thursday morning.
Crews continued battling the fires throughout the day Thursday, the county said, and remain in the area to monitor the situation.
Crews battle two more fires
Two other wildfires broke out Wednesday in areas near Marion, in McDowell County, a press release said.
However, neither required evacuations. One, a 4-acre fire at Watson Place, was completely contained Wednesday, according to the N.C. Forest Service.
Crews continued to battle the other fire, a 60-acre fire at North Fork, as of Thursday morning. None of it has been contained, but there was no imminent threat to structures, the county said.
“There are no evacuation orders for the North Fork Fire as it continues to primarily burn on US Forest Service property near Good Rd. in Woodlawn,” a press release said.
Emergency personnel from McDowell County and other counties, the state, and federal government helped, the county said, and local fire departments worked with the U.S. Forest Service “to provide structure protection and monitor fire behavior.”
The county told residents to remain cautious in the area on Thursday.
Emergency shelter set up
An emergency shelter was set up at First Baptist Church in Old Fort, at 203 E. Main Street on Wednesday when residents were forced to evacuate.
Old Fort, an area of about 800 people where Mill Creek runs through its center, is still recovering from extensive storm damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
“McDowell County residents, stay safe and follow local guidance regarding evacuation,” Gov. Josh Stein posted on the social media site X on Wednesday.
Amy Dowdle, the public information officer at McDowell County Schools, said students needed to be picked up from school on Wednesday.
“Buses will not travel down roads that are impacted by Wildfires including roads with limited visibility,” Dowdle said in a message posted to the county’s Facebook page.
The county also said Wednesday residents should stop any outdoor burning due to high winds and dry conditions.
Updates are being published on the county’s social media pages, including X and Facebook. Residents can sign up for updates by texting 28752 to 888777.
Tips for homeowners
Because 13 million acres of North Carolina are classified as “wildland urban interface,” a significant portion of the state is at increased risk of wildfires, according to the N.C. Forest Service.
Wildland urban interface is an when “structures and other human development blend with undeveloped wildland, forest or vegetation,” the N.C. Forest Service said in a press release.
Because of that risk, the state agency said, property owners should take precautions to protect their homes from the risk of wildfires, including:
- Clearing off debris, such as pine needles and dead leaves, from roof lines, gutters, decks, porches and patios, so falling and windblown embers have nothing to burn
- Trimming shrubs, overhanging branches, and any tree branches that are closer than five feet from a home
- Removing anything within 30 feet of a home that could burn, such as woodpiles or spare lumber, vehicles and boats, or anything else that can act as a fuel source
- Use crushed stone or gravel instead of flammable landscaping materials like mulches, and rake mulch at least five feet away from a home
- Add screens or temporary seals to vents and other openings around a house to prevent windblown embers from getting inside of a home
This story was originally published January 29, 2025 at 3:34 PM.
