Hurricane Ravaged Western North Carolina Now Dealing With Wildfires

Wildfire in North Carolina this week in the 
same area slammed by Hurricane Helene
back in September. 

 Western North Carolina does not need any more problems. 

They're still trying to recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene back in late September.

People are still living in RVs and even tents in harsh winter cold. Piles of debris are still everywhere. Some roads aren't repaired yet. Perhaps thousands of people are still out of their homes, out of a job or both. 

But. of course, new issues have arisen.  Nothing is ever easy. The latest worry facing western North Carolina is wildfires.

Yes, wildfires. 

As AccuWeather reports, the larger of two fires, called the Crooked Creek Fire burning around the tiny hamlet of Old Fort, about 24 miles east of Asheville along Interstate 40.  This fire at last report covered 250 acres, forced evacuations, damaged one home and destroyed some outbuildings. 

The fires as of Sunday had been contained.  Evacuation orders were lifted. It did rain in the area Friday, and small amounts of rain are in the forecast later this week. 

 Parts of western North Carolina actually endured some renewed flooding with heavy rain at the end of December, but since then, little rain or snow has fallen. 

It's been dry and windy. All those toppled trees and shredded branches lying on the hurricane-damaged forest floor are drying out, creating a fire hazard. 

With fewer trees, and remaining trees leafless for the winter, sunshine can get through and dry things out when there's little rain or snow, like the western Carolina mountains have dealt with this month.  Dry, strong northwest winds have also frequently swept through this area during January. 

Wildfires are most common in the mountains of North Carolina in the late autumn and early spring but do break out from time to time during January if little rain or snow falls, like this month. 

The fallen trees and branches in the mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee will continue to increase the fire risk during dry spells for a few years to come yet.  So yes, the wettest possible hurricane to hit the region also ironically is increasing the fire risk, 

VIDEO:

Drone video of the fires in North Carolina. Click on this link to view, or if you see the image below, clic on that.