Wildfires Spread in Western North Carolina Post-Helene

Multiple wildfires have erupted in western North Carolina, notably the Crooked Creek Fire, which has burned approximately 250 acres and is currently 55% contained. This fire, caused by a fallen tree on a power line, prompted evacuation orders for residents near Old Fort but saw those orders lifted as of Thursday morning due to improved conditions. Diminished winds and increased humidity have aided firefighters in their efforts, although one home has been damaged and several outbuildings destroyed. Meanwhile, another fire, the North Fork Fire, is ongoing and estimated at 60 acres with no containment reported yet. Officials attribute the heightened fire risk to dry conditions and debris left from Hurricane Helene, which devastated the area last fall. No injuries or fatalities have been reported, and local emergency management continues to monitor the situation closely.