Firefighters Contain 100% of Wildfire That Prompted Evacuations East of Asheville (NC)

Firefighters contained the rest of the Crooked Creek wildfire in McDowell County Thursday afternoon that previously forced families to evacuate from their rural Western North Carolina homes.

The fire started Wednesday afternoon after a tree fell on a power line near 4131 Bat Cave Road in Old Fort, according to a county government news release. High winds caused the fire to spread around the Crooked Creek community and prompted road closures.

But by Thursday morning, fire crews were able to contain more than half of the 220-acre fire, allowing roads to be reopened and people to return to their homes after evacuation orders were lifted. By 4:30 p.m., 100% of the fire was contained, the county said.

One home was damaged and several outbuildings were destroyed by the fires, the county said, but there were no injuries or fatalities as of Thursday afternoon.

In its final update on the Crooked Creek wildfire, the county said community groups and volunteers provided equipment, food and water to emergency responders and families temporarily evacuated and given shelter at First Baptist Church in Old Fort.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to all local and surrounding county fire departments, law enforcement agencies, EMS personnel, and rescue teams who worked tirelessly to protect lives and property in the Crooked Creek community,” a county press release said. “McDowell County Emergency Services is grateful for the unwavering resilience of our community and the teamwork that helped bring this fire to full containment.”

Two other wildfires broke out Wednesday in areas near Marion, in McDowell County, a press release said. However, neither required evacuations.

A 4-acre fire at Watson Place was completely contained Wednesday, according to the N.C. Forest Service, which tracks the acreage of wildfires on its website.

A crew of 80 firefighters continued battling a 200-acre wildfire, called the North Fork fire, containing 20% of it, a county press release published just after 7 p.m. said.

The fire, which is burning near the Woodlawn community, is located “east of Highway 221 and south of American Thread Road along the cliffs above the North Fork of the Catawba River in the U.S. Forest Service Grandfather Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest.”

No structures were threatened and no evacuations were ordered because the fire is mostly burning U.S. Forest Service property, the county said.

The region suffered heavy damage from Hurricane Helene. Downed trees and other debris provided fuel for the fire, the U.S. Forest Service said in a press release.

The county said smoke would likely continue to impact the area on Friday, and advised residents with smoke sensitives to limit time outdoors until it was clear.

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