Robert Besser
01 Apr 2025

RALEIGH/COLUMBIA: Dry weather, strong winds, and fallen trees from Hurricane Helene have sparked wildfires in North Carolina and South Carolina, prompting evacuation orders this week.

Many people are still recovering from the hurricane that hit in September, making it even harder to fight the fires, said Bo Dossett from the North Carolina Forest Service. The downed trees from the storm are fueling the fires and making them harder to control.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for parts of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Winds of 10 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph, could help the fires spread quickly.

Officials ordered evacuations in Polk County, North Carolina, where three fires have burned nearly 10 square miles. Two of the fires are still not under control. A fire known as the Black Cove Fire was sparked by a fallen power line; however, the cause of the other fires remains unknown. Henderson County also issued voluntary evacuation orders and opened a shelter.

In South Carolina, two fires at Table Rock State Park and Persimmon Ridge have burned over two square miles. Officials said both fires were caused by human activity. No homes have been destroyed, but about 100 homes were under voluntary evacuation orders over the weekend.

Experts say that Hurricane Helene left behind a significant amount of dry fuel, and the region's current dry weather is exacerbating the situation. Although some rain has fallen recently, most of the Carolinas continue to experience dry or drought conditions.