The N.C. Forest Service responded to 91 wildfires across Western North Carolina on Saturday, April 1, 2023. Sylva, Asheville and Lenoir districts accounted for most of the wildfire activity.
High winds throughout April 1 led to many downed or damaged powerlines which provided the ignition sources for several of the fires. Escaped debris burning was also a factor.
“Extremely high wind speeds, warm temperatures and very low relative humidity created extremely challenging conditions for firefighters,” said Regional Forester Greg Smith. “NCFS resources were essentially maxed out due to the sheer number of fires that were ignited all across Western North Carolina.”
The N.C. Forest Service will continue to face challenges associated with resource capacity due to increased fire activity, high employee turnover and long-term vacancies.
“We are asking folks to please help us prevent further wildland fires by postponing any outdoor burning. Otherwise, we’ll see more of this in the coming days,” said Smith. Fire danger is predicted to be high and, in some cases, critical in the Foothills and Mountains early in the week.
As of 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 2, the N.C. Forest Service had successfully put containment lines around all known fires that ignited Saturday. Of those fires, 10 are still considered active as firefighters continue to work toward full containment.
The public is reminded to keep drones away from wildfires. While drones provide unique opportunities for aerial video and imagery of wildfire activity, they are unauthorized. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire compromises the safety of pilots and interferes with firefighting efforts.
For the latest information about wildfires across the state, visit ncforestservice.gov/fire_control/sit_report.htm.