Residents of Polk County, North Carolina were instructed to evacuate following a series of wildfires that ravaged hundreds of acres in the region. As of just before 9 p.m. on Thursday, three fires – the Black Cove Fire, Deepwoods Fire, and Fish Hook Fire – were blazing in the county. Kellie Cannon, the county’s public information officer, reported that the Black Cove Fire, spanning 418 acres, is currently uncontained and believed to have ignited due to a fallen powerline. The Deepwoods Fire, also uncontained, has burned 216 acres and damaged one structure. Firefighting teams are working tirelessly to combat these fires, despite the challenges posed by rugged terrain and strong winds. The Fish Hook Fire led to damage to at least six structures and consumed over one hundred acres. Evacuations were ordered for areas affected by the Deepwoods and Fish Hook fires. Polk County, located approximately 85 miles from Charlotte, is under close watch. Furthermore, a statewide burn ban was imposed by the North Carolina Forest Service starting Friday morning, prohibiting all open burning in affected counties and suspending the issuance of new permits until the ban is lifted. Violators may face fines and court fees. In a separate incident, fire officials in South Florida are battling a significant blaze known as the 344 Fire, which has scorched thousands of acres between Miami and the Florida Keys. Residents and visitors are advised to steer clear of the U.S. 1 area due to the smoke and significant emergency response.
