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POLK/HENDERSON COUNTIES, N.C. (WLOS) — Firefighting efforts continue across western North Carolina as crews battle multiple wildfires, including the Black Cove Complex Fires.

The North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) reported on Saturday, March 29 that a total of 458 personnel are working on the Black Cove Complex Fires burning in Polk County and Henderson County.

An increase in humidity and calmer winds reduced fire behavior overnight, which allowed fire crews to further strengthen containment lines, according to the NCFS.

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BLACK COVE FIRE

The Black Cove Fire has burned a total of 3,410 acres and is 23% contained. The fire is burning approximately two miles northeast of Saluda in the Green River Gorge.

NCFS reports that the fire's behavior has lessened due to an increase in humidity and clouds. Fire crews monitored fire lines overnight. Suppression repair has since begun on the northeast side of the fire in an attempt to rehabilitate impacted areas, according to NCFS.

The Black Cove Fire was initially reported on Wednesday, March 19 and was caused by a downed power line.

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DEEP WOODS FIRE

The Deep Woods Fire has now burned 3,797 acres and is 32% contained. The fire is burning approximately five miles northwest of Columbus, N.C.

Crews have successfully completed a strategic firing operation around Holbert Cove Road. Work is now underway on suppression repair.

The Deep Woods Fire was reported on Wednesday, March 19 and its cause remains under investigation.

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FISH HOOK FIRE

The Fish Hook Fire remains at 199 acres and 95% containment. This fire is burning approximately five miles northwest of Mill Spring near Lake Adger.

Fire crews have halted the fire's forward progress and continue to secure firebreaks.

The Fish Hook Fire was reported on Thursday, March 20 and was caused by a downed power line.

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The Henderson County Sheriff's Office reports that donations and supplies are not needed at this time.

Evacuations continue to be assessed by Polk County and Henderson County officials.

An interactive map is available to help residents track the Black Cove Complex fire and active evacuation orders.

A statewide ban on open burning was enacted on March 21 and remains in effect until further notice.

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Additional information on the Black Cove Complex Fires can be found here.

With three fires in Polk and Henderson counties burning on public and private land, the N.C. Forest Service and county emergency management departments have released a map indicating the size and location of the fires as they've grown in the last two days. The maps also indicate suggested readiness levels for residents.

With weather expected to be dry and wind gusts over 30 mph on March 25, there is a high likelihood the fires could grow. Here's what to know.

Where are the fires?

The largest fires in WNC are located in Polk and Henderson counties. The two larger fires, the Deep Woods Fire and the Black Cove Fire, are located in the Green River Gorge and nestled in a valleyed stretch of the area typically known for tubing and kayaking in the summer months.

How big are they?

As of the latest March 24 update from the N.C. Forest Service, the Black Cove Fire spans 2,813 acres and is at 0% containment. The Deep Woods Fire is at 2,742 acres and is at 0% containment.

Another fire, the Fish Hook Fire, is at 199 acres and 69% containment, the N.C. Forest Service estimates.

Map of Deep Woods, Black Cove, Fish Hook fires

Henderson County Emergency Management, Polk County Emergency Management and the N.C. Forest Service have released maps of the three fires, indicating that the Black Cove fire had hopped over the Green River, spreading to the west ridge of Cove Mountain. N.C. Forest Service spokesperson E. J. Dwigans confirmed the fire had hopped the river in two spots in Polk County. The fire moved toward Cove Creek on March 24, according to the N.C. Forest Service's update.

Henderson County Emergency Management map includes indications of whether an area has been evacuated and how prepared residents should be to evacuate if the fire spreads to their community. Suggestions for those in green areas include considering a plan if evacuation becomes necessary. Those in yellow areas, have a "high probability" of a need to evacuate, meaning they should pack necessary items and prepare family and pets for potential departure. Those in red areas have been issued evacuation orders.

An interactive map of all wildfires in WNC and in Upstate South Carolina is available on the Citizen Times website.

How are firefighters responding?

As of the latest March 24 update, 263 personnel from North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, Montana, Wyoming, Tennessee, Oregon, South Dakota and California are working to stop and slow the spread of the fire and protect structures. On March 23, Polk County Fire Marshal Bobby Arledge called fighting the fire amid complications from Tropical Storm Helene a "nightmare."

Evacuation orders

In response to the Black Cove Fire in Polk County, evacuation orders have been issued for residents who live along Lady Slipper Trail, Big Hungry Road, Spurgeon Cove Lane, English Heifer Cove Road, Deer Trail, Scarlets Mountain Road and Green River Cove Road addresses from 1091-1528. In Henderson County, voluntary evacuation orders have been issued for Laurel Mountain View Road and Boulder View Road.

In response to the Deep Woods Fire, evacuation orders have been issued for residents on Fox Paw Lane and from 5079-7265 Holberts Cove Road.

In total, Polk County has issued 165 evacuation orders while Henderson County has issued 29.

Polk County's shelter for wildfire evacuees is located at 75 Carmel Lane in Columbus. Henderson County's emergency shelter is located at 708 South Grove Street, Hendersonville.

This story will be updated.

Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at [email protected].

POLK COUNTY, N.C. – More evacuations were ordered in western North Carolina and parts of South Carolina as firefighters continue to battle multiple wildfires raging in areas still cleaning up from Hurricane Helene.

In North Carolina, the Black Cove, Deep Woods and Fish Hook fires continue burning in Polk County, an area devastated by Helene almost six months ago.

Officials said evacuation orders are in place for several areas surrounding the Black Cove and Deep Woods fires in Polk County. On Tuesday, evacuation orders were extended into Henderson County.

Emergency management officials in Henderson County issued mandatory evacuation orders for the Summer Haven community on Tuesday evening. Four other neighborhoods are also under mandatory evacuation orders. Nearly a dozen other nearby communities are being told to be ready to go.

The Black Cove Fire, which began last Wednesday, has burned over 3,000 acres and had no containment a week later. Fire officials said it was started by a downed power line.

Meanwhile, the Deep Woods Fire has burned nearly 3,000 acres and also remains 0% contained. The Fish Hook Fire has burned about 200 acres and is nearly contained. Officials said at least six structures have been lost in the fire.

The North Carolina Forest Service said the area surrounding the wildfires received a little rainfall this week, but the fires remain active. The agency said aircraft are dropping water onto the fires, while bulldozers assist firefighters on the ground.

(Polk County Local Government/Facebook)

On Saturday, Polk County received a "red" air quality alert, and the North Carolina Forest Service advised residents not to go outside for a prolonged period. A burn ban is in effect throughout the state of North Carolina. Air quality began to moderate by Tuesday morning.

Evacuations also triggered in South Carolina wildfires

Dozens of evacuation orders were also declared Tuesday evening in South Carolina's Greenville and Pickens counties near the Persimmon Ridge Fire – part of the Table Rock Fire Complex, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

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The fire erupted on Sunday morning and spread to over 300 acres. The cause has not been reported.

Two wildfires in Polk and Henderson county now cover nearly 6,000 acres in the Green River Gorge and as another fire in South Carolina has grown, Transylvania County has issued a countywide state of emergency.

More than 50 fire departments and more than 300 personnel from North Carolina and other states are deployed on the ground to combat the Deep Woods Fire and the Black Cove Fire in the Green River Gorge. The two fires remain at 0% containment as fire activity remains "significant," the Polk County Office of Emergency Management said March 25.

In South Carolina, the Table Rock Complex Fire has scorched 1,389 acres and is at 0% containment. Transylvania County, which borders Upstate South Carolina, issued a state of emergency on March 25 in response to the fire.

At 8:51 p.m. Henderson County Emergency Management issued a mandatory evacuation for the "Summer Haven" community in Henderson County, including Macedonia Road east of Interstate 26, Skyland Acres Road, Knight Road, Summer Haven Lane and South Fine Way.

N.C. Forest Service spokesperson E.J. Dwigans provided an update on the size of the fires in the Green River Gorge the evening of March 25.

The two larger fires are burning on state-owned and private land in the Green River Gorge through steep terrain heavily impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. National Weather Service meteorologist Clay Chaney said the area experienced wind gusts between 25-35 mph on March 25, exacerbating firefighters' ability to respond to the fires. North Carolina is currently under a statewide burn ban.

There is no chance of rain until "probably late Saturday night into Sunday," Chaney said. Wind gusts are expected to be between 20-25 mph on March 26, but will decrease March 27-28.

In response to the Black Cove Fire in Polk County, evacuation orders have been issued for residents who live along Lady Slipper Trail, Big Hungry Road, Spurgeon Cove Lane, English Heifer Cove Road, Deer Trail, Scarlets Mountain Road and Green River Cove Road addresses from 1091-1528. In Henderson County, voluntary evacuation orders have been issued for Laurel Mountain View Road and Boulder View Road.

In response to the Deep Woods Fire, evacuation orders have been issued for residents on Fox Paw Lane and from 5079-7265 Holberts Cove Road.

In total, Polk County has issued 165 evacuation orders while Henderson County has issued 29.

Polk County's shelter for wildfire evacuees is located at 75 Carmel Lane in Columbus. Henderson County's emergency shelter is at 708 South Grove St., Hendersonville.

This story will be updated.

Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at [email protected]. Consider supporting this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times

HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — UPDATE (March 25, 2025): The State Department of Environment Quality adjusted its forecast Tuesday morning based on current observations. Polk County has been downgraded to a Code Orange Alert and surrounding counties downgraded to Code Yellow or moderate conditions.

"This is based on satellite imagery and nearby low cost sensor data which shows less smoke impacts to the wider area than in recent days," Tuesday's update read.

State officials urge residents to use their eyes and nose as air quality sensors.

"If you can see and/or smell smoke, fine particulate levels in your area are likely elevated and we suggest taking proper precautions such as remaining indoors when possible," Tuesday's update said.

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The Code Red Air Quality alert has expanded as wildfires in western North Carolina continue to burn.

The North Carolina Department of Environment Quality (NCDEQ) said a Code Red Air Quality Action Day will be in effect Tuesday for Polk, Transylvania, and Henderson counties. A Code Orange Air Quality Action Day will be in place for Rutherford County.

HENDERSON COUNTY PREPARES FOR POSSIBLE WILDFIRE SPREAD WITH EVACUATION SHELTERS READY

Under a Code Orange alert, older adults, children, active people, and those with respiratory issues could feel health effects.

A Code Red alert means prolonged exposure to the air may be unhealthy for anyone. Mountain fire officials encourage the public to limit time outdoors in those areas.

"The weather dictates [air quality alerts]," Kevin Waldrup, the Henderson County Fire Marshal, said. "You may see smoke now, then in two hours you won't have any. We got a lot of smoke reports. If you have respiratory problems, you just need to regulate your amount of time outside."

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NCDEQ said these latest alerts are in effect until midnight Tuesday evening, but meteorologists will continue to assess the situation and may modify or extend the alerts over the coming days.

For the most up-to-date air quality forecast information, visit the Air Quality Portal. See tips on how to stay safe from wildfire smoke at www.deq.nc.gov.