Wildfires in North Carolina have prompted a mandatory evacuation in Polk County as emergency crews work diligently to control the flames in an area still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. The North Carolina Department of Public Safety announced the evacuation order at 8:20 PM Saturday for specific regions within the county, located about 80 miles (128.7 kilometers) west of Charlotte.
Residents were cautioned about reduced visibility and the potential for blocked roads and evacuation routes, with a social media post urging, “If you do not leave now, you could be trapped, injured, or killed.” A shelter has been set up in Columbus, North Carolina, to assist evacuees.
According to the North Carolina Forest Service’s online wildfire viewer, there are currently three active fires in Polk County, along with two others in nearby Burke and Madison counties, and an additional wildfire in Stokes County near the Virginia border.
The western region of North Carolina is still reeling from the impact of Hurricane Helene, which struck in September. The hurricane caused significant damage, washing away over a mile (1.6 kilometers) of eastbound lanes on Interstate 40, which remained partially closed until March. Overall, the hurricane affected 5,000 miles (8,046 kilometers) of state-maintained roads and damaged approximately 7,000 private roads, bridges, and culverts across the state.
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