A mandatory evacuation order was issued on Sunday in a North Carolina county still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, as a raging wildfire forced residents to flee. Meanwhile, South Carolina’s governor declared a state of emergency in response to a growing wildfire in the state. In a separate incident, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service was engaged in battling a blaze in the Wharton State Forest, hundreds of miles away.
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety announced the evacuation starting at 8:20 p.m. on Saturday for parts of Polk County in western North Carolina. The agency warned of reduced visibility and blocked evacuation routes, emphasizing the potential danger of remaining in the area. A shelter was set up in Columbus, North Carolina to accommodate evacuees.
Multiple fires were reported in Polk County, with one spanning 1.9 square miles and another covering 2.8 square miles, both without containment by Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, one home was lost to the larger fire. A third fire, which had burned about 199 acres with 50% containment, destroyed three homes. While an earlier evacuation order was lifted, the situation remained critical.
Meanwhile, wildfires were also reported in Burke County and Stokes County in North Carolina, as well as in Pickens County in South Carolina. Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency to support emergency crews battling the Table Rock Fire in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The fire, which had grown to over 300 acres with no containment, was proving difficult to control due to steep terrain and Hurricane Helene debris.
In New Jersey, the Forest Fire Service was combating a wildfire that ignited in the Wharton State Forest on Saturday. The fire had consumed about 2.7 square miles by Sunday morning and was 50% contained. Two campgrounds were evacuated as a precaution, although structures were not directly threatened. The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
