Where are the wildfires in North Carolina? Map, locations, and evacuation updates
ByVaishnavi Vaidyanathan
Mar 27, 2025 07:05 AM IST
The Black Cove Fire has burned 3,000 acres, the Deep Woods Fire 3,231 acres and Fish Hook Fire 199 acres. A new blaze, the Rattlesnake Branch Fire, has started.
At least three major wildfires are burning across North Carolina, destroying over 6,000 acres of forest land and forcing evacuations. According to ABC News, at least 11 homes have been destroyed by the fires. See the wildfire map here.
A firefighter works in the area as the Deep Woods Fire burns in Polk County, North Carolina.(Marion Fire Department/Handout via REUTERS)
A firefighter works in the area as the Deep Woods Fire burns in Polk County, North Carolina.(Marion Fire Department/Handout via REUTERS)
Black Cove Fire -
The Black Cove Fire, which was first reported on March 19, has grown to 3,000 acres in size and is 17% contained as of Wednesday afternoon, WYFF4 reported. The blaze is burning in Henderson County on both sides of the Green River, Tryon Daily Bulletin reported.
The fire is continuing to burn to the west, farther into Henderson County. A firefighter was injured on the Black Cove Fire on Tuesday and was airlifted to an area hospital, where. The cause of Black Cove Fire has been determined to be a downed powerline.
Meanwhile, the Polk County Emergency Management urged residents in the following areas to evacuate on Wednesday afternoon -
2456-6159 Holbert Cove Rd.
Coyote Ridge
Sam's Gap Lane
Who Dr.
Echo Ln.
Glen Echo Circle
Scout Camp Rd.
Big Hungry Rd
Deer Trl
English Heifer Cove Rd
Scarlets Mountain Rd
Spurgeon Cove Ln
5079 - 7265 Holbert Cove Rd (North Side)
Fox Paw Ln
1091 - 1528 Green River Cove Rd
Lady Slipper Trl
Charity Branch Dr
Deep Woods Ln
Gamelands Trl
Moonshine Trc
Oakview Ln
Piney Gate Rd
Piney Overlook Ln
Wesley Ln
Windsong Ln
Volley Way
Deep Woods Fire -
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Deep Woods Fire has burned 3,231 acres and is 11% contained. The fire is located about 5 miles northwest of Columbus, spreading through timber on both state-owned and private land in the Green River Gorge and nearby Holbert Cove community. A spot fire was discovered across Cove Creek near Big Bradley Falls on Tuesday. The fire, first reported on March 19, is still under investigation to determine its cause.
Fish Hook Fire:
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Fish Hook Fire has burned 199 acres and is 86% contained. First reported on March 20, firefighting crews were able to stop the fire's forward progress on Wednesday. All evacuations related to the fire were lifted on Wednesday morning. The cause has been determined to be a downed powerline.
In addition to the three fires mentioned, the Table Rock Fire in South Carolina's Upstate has expanded to nearly 2,300 acres with 0% containment. The fire now poses a threat of crossing state lines, prompting Transylvania County in North Carolina to declare a state of emergency, according to Citizen Times.
A new blaze, named the Rattlesnake Branch Fire, broke out on Wednesday afternoon on state land and has crossed into the Pisgah National Forest. As of 8 p.m. Wednesday, the fire had grown to 175 acres and was 0% contained.
Also Read: South Korea battles one of its worst wildfires in history | Photos of the devastation
Gov. Josh Stein issues state of emergency -
Gov. Josh Stein on Wednesday evening issued a state of emergency "to expand the state’s capacity to respond to the wildfires burning in western North Carolina."
The state of emergency includes the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey, as well as the tribal lands in the state of North Carolina held by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
"The wildfires in western North Carolina continue to grow, so I have expanded our State of Emergency,” Stein said in the release. “Our State Emergency Response Team is responding with every tool at its disposal. Please stay safe and stay alert for any evacuation orders if the fires spread to an area near you.”
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