RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency Wednesday to help fight wildfires, especially in the western part of the state, where an outdoor burning ban is in place.
Cooper's declaration comes as crews in Watauga County are battling a large brush fire in the Triplett community, which is near Powder Horn Mountain. Firefighters received their initial call about the fire at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday, according to Watauga County Emergency Services. Multiple fire departments responded to the fire with crews working through the night in an effort to contain the flames. As of 7:30 a.m. Thursday, the fire had grown to 225 acres.
A temporary shelter was opened at the Deep Gap Fire Department in conjunction with the Red Cross. Watauga County Emergency Services said the shelter remained open until 5:30 a.m. Thursday and the Red Cross will remain on standby in case it needs to be reopened.
Forestry officials reported six active wildfires west of I-77 including what they are calling the Poplar Drive Fire in Henderson County, which has burned a home and a cabin and is threatening other structures. The North Carolina Forest Service said the Poplar Drive Fire in Henderson County fire had grown to 434 acres and is 30% contained on Friday.
The declaration makes it easier to coordinate the emergency response and ensure the right equipment and people get into place to fight the fires. An outdoor burning ban is in effect for 30 counties, mostly along and west of Interstate 77, the North Carolina Forest Service said.
An unusually dry fall is combining with above-average temperatures to increase fire danger, especially in the mountains, officials said. The area is in moderate to severe drought and conditions are getting worse.
A cold front moving through at the end of the week should lower temperatures, but with only spotty showers expected, the fire danger will likely continue.
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