Wildfires

The Black Cove Fire in the Green River Game Land has burned over 2,000 acres. Firefighters from across state lines have responded, some drawing water from the Green River to spray along the fire lines.

Saturday evening update: The fires cover more than 2,000 acres in the northeast part of the county.

Helene has changed the landscape in western North Carolina for years to come and raised interest among private landowners in an ancient forest management technique to prevent the spread of wildfires.

Fire crews continue to battle a wildfire that has spread to more than 600 acres in Polk County. Polk County officials say the fire is 91% contained — however, fire crews planned to suspend work Tuesday night amid high winds.

A spring storm is bringing various weather conditions across the U.S. Some regions are facing snow, possible tornadoes, and critical fire conditions, according to the National Weather Service.

The largest wildfire in WNC is only 30% contained as of Monday afternoon. Officials are hopeful rain and less wind will help extinguish it.

Gov. Henry McMaster has declared a state of emergency, and the state forestry commission continued a statewide burning ban as 175 wildfires burned across many areas of South Carolina on Sunday.

The largest in North Carolina, about 400 acres, was at Uwharrie National Forest, about 50 miles east of Charlotte.

First responder communications show the power company in Altadena was slow to respond to Eaton firefighters — and that live power lines sparked new fires days after flames first broke out.

In general, Charlotte and North Carolina are not typically thought of as fire-prone regions. However, the Southeast experiences more wildfires than any other region in the country.