POLK COUNTY, N.C. – Three wildfires in western North Carolina are proving challenging for firefighters to beat because of rough terrain and debris left behind by Hurricane Helene. The Black Cove, Deep Woods and Fish Hook fires continue burning in Polk County, an area devastated by Helene almost six months ago. The Black Cove Fire, which began last Wednesday, has burned 2,076 acres and … Read more
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on Sunday declared a state of emergency as firefighters battle hundreds of wildfires across the Carolinas. “I have declared a State of Emergency to further support wildfire response efforts across the state and ensure our first responders continue to have the resources they need,” McMaster wrote in a post on X. “A statewide … Read more
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 … Read more
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene—with the death toll at at least 133 and expected to rise—extreme weather events and natural disasters are on many people’s minds. However, in recent years, record numbers of Americans have been relocating to hazard-prone areas—exacerbating both the severity and costs of natural disasters, according to a New York Times report released this week. In … Read more
A construction worker died and another went missing after a massive 5-alarm fire erupted at a North Carolina work site Thursday morning. The 5-alarm blaze broke out at about 9 a.m. inside an under-construction apartment building in Charlotte’s affluent SouthPark neighborhood, authorities said. The crews rescued 15 workers — including a man stuck on a … Read more