According to a noon update from Transylvania County officials, the Table Rock Fire from South Carolina has expanded in size and is at approximately 4,556 acres.
The Persimmon Ridge Fire, also from South Carolina, is at an estimated 1,353 acres.
Transylvania County officials also confirmed that the Rattlesnake Branch Fire in Pisgah National Forest grew to about 623 acres by Thursday afternoon.
County officials said hundreds of structures are now under mandatory evacuation as multiple agencies prepare for the potential spread of a forest fire into the county.
News 13 Chief Meteorologist Jason Boyer confirms that Buncombe County is now in a Code Red for air quality, which will continue into Friday, March 28. The air quality in several western North Carolina counties is currently "unhealthy" (Code Red) or "very unhealthy" (Code Purple).
- Black Cove Fire – 3,052 acres | 17% containment | approx. 55 homes currently evacuated
- Deep Woods Fire – 3,231 acres | 11% containment | approx. 197 homes currently evacuated
- Fish Hook Fire – 199 acres | 86% containment | 0 homes currently evacuated
The Black Cove Complex in Polk County has become the highest-priority fire in the United States, according to the North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS).
STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOShttps://wlos.com/news/local/north-carolina-wildfire-updates-black-cove-complex-polk-table-rock-transylvania-dry-air-quality-firefighters-buncombe-haywood-pisgah-national-forest#
