MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. – At least three wildfires have ignited near North Carolina towns that were devastated by Hurricane Helene.
As of Thursday morning, the Crooked Creek Fire in McDowell County has burned an estimated 250 acres and is now 55% contained. Emergency crews said they made significant progress overnight as winds diminished and relative humidity increased, leading to lower fire activity.
The evacuation order for the affected areas has been lifted, allowing residents to safely return to their homes. Emergency personnel will remain on-site throughout the day to monitor the situation and ensure further containment of the fire.
There have been no injuries or fatalities reported. However, one home has sustained damage, and multiple outbuildings have been destroyed, fire officials said.
The McDowell County Office of Emergency Management said the fire was started by a tree on a downed power line, and gusty winds are driving the flames in the area.
“The emergency management of this county had said that it’s a lot of that debris from Helene and the cut-down trees, the dry brush, that’s making it challenging for a lot of these firefighters,” FOX News Multimedia Reporter Chelsea Torres said.
Two more fires began north of Marion, North Carolina, on Wednesday afternoon. According to McDowell County Emergency Management, no evacuations are in place for either fire.
The North Carolina Forest Service warned residents on Wednesday that conditions would be ideal for fire weather but should improve in the evening. Low humidity and gusty winds create the perfect mixture for rapid fire spread.
The latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor showed widespread areas of unusual dryness, with some counties either in a moderate or severe drought.
According to state estimates, the remnants of the September hurricane damaged or destroyed more than 70,000 homes. Rainfall totals topped 30 inches in North Carolina, causing many communities in and around Asheville to be completely cut off from first responders.
The cyclone was not only the costliest but also the deadliest of the season, with more than 200 lives lost.
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