Downed power line during high winds erupts wildfires in Helene-ravaged area of North Carolina
As of Thursday, the Crooked Creek Fire in McDowell County has burned an estimated 220 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.
Wildfire burns in North Carolina towns devastated by Helene
At least three wildfires ignited on Wednesday near North Carolina towns that were devastated by Hurricane Helene. The largest of the fires was estimated to have consumed 220 acres near the town of Marion and forced evacuations.
MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. – At least three wildfires have ignited near North Carolina towns that were devastated by Hurricane Helene.
As of Thursday, the Crooked Creek Fire in McDowell County has burned an estimated 220 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 fire was caused by a downed power line during high winds on Wednesday.
The evacuation order for the affected areas has been lifted, allowing residents to safely return to their homes. Emergency personnel will remain onsite 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 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.
Wildfire erupts in western North Carolina
As parts of western North Carolina are still devastated from Helene, a wildfire erupted on Wednesday near Black Mountain and Old Fort.
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.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 'CONTROLLED' FIRE AND A 'CONTAINED' FIRE?
Wildfire erupts in western North Carolina months after Helene
A wildfire can be seen burning in the mountains behind a home in Old Fort, North Carolina, where many homes were devastated by Helene in late September.
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.
Maxar collected new satellite imagery that reveals some of the flooding aftermath caused by Hurricane Helene as the storm swept through North Carolina. (Maxar Technologies)