Hendersonville – Signs of spring are emerging all around WNC—welcome sights indeed. Spring flowers are blooming, black bears are beginning to meander about, and the pleasantly unpleasant Bradford pear trees invade our senses, reminding us that Mother Nature has a sense of humor. However, for some North Carolinians, a more menacing scent is carried on the spring breeze: smoke from large wildfires burning across the region. While wildfires are not uncommon in the mountains, unusually dry conditions and an excess of fuels from last autumn’s hurricanes may lead to destructive fires this season.
According to ncdrought.org, nearly all of WNC is experiencing “moderate drought” conditions, with a few counties—Haywood, Madison, Ashe, Allegheny, and a sliver of Surrey—classified as “abnormally dry.” Recently, David Greathouse, Assistant Camp Director BRIDGE with the North Carolina Forest Service, explained, “Western North Carolina is currently in drought status, meaning we are behind in our average rainfall for this time of year. What precipitation we have been getting has not been enough to offset the drought.” Adding to the problem, windy conditions and low humidity have quickly dried out vegetation before it can absorb moisture. Greathouse also noted, “Several (and I mean several) days of poor nighttime relative humidity recoveries are not giving the moisture in the fuels enough time to rebound. This is leading to increased fire behavior, longer burn periods (sometimes active burning 24 hours a day), increased spotting, and fire behavior not typically seen in western North Carolina.”
North Carolina regularly ranks among the top five states for wildfires. Between 2000 and 2024, the state experienced 113,892 wildfires that burned 520,262 acres. That averages out to 4,556 fires and 20,810 acres burned each year. The year 2001 saw the largest number of fires at 8,240, while 2011 holds the record for the most acres burned with 63,547 acres. While these numbers might seem small compared to states like California, it is important to consider that California (163,696 square miles) has more than three times the land area of North Carolina (53,819 square miles). With this knowledge, the reality of the danger becomes even more apparent.
Wildfires are driven by many variables. The fuels—combustible materials that feed the fire—are among the most critical factors. “Storm damage from TS Helene has increased the amount of fuels on the forest floor. This is creating problems with accessibility…meaning it is harder to get into these places to fight fire,” David Greathouse told the Tribune Papers. “Luckily, a lot of the large fuels have not become available to burn from the storm, but the smaller aerial stuff (think finger size and smaller) has. Now not only do we have a horizontal profile of fuels…we have a vertical profile as well. This is leading to higher flame lengths, intensity, and increased spotting.” Spotting occurs when burning debris is carried by wind into unburned areas, creating “spot fires” that extend the fire’s reach and complicate firefighting efforts.
Another challenge this spring is the inexperience and vacancies within the North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS). Greathouse noted, “We have over 100 vacancies—about 25% of the workforce—many of them frontline firefighters: County and Assistant County Rangers, Fire Fighter Equipment Operators, and such. Folks are leaving the Forest Service for better pay and benefits, and that’s leaving us with less experienced personnel to fight these fires.”
While we all love living amidst the majestic beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, we must not forget that an ever-present danger is hidden within those ancient hills. With knowledge and respect, we can keep each other safe and ensure that the forest remains for many more generations to come.
For more information about wildfires in North Carolina or the U.S., visit https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/nc-forest-service https://www.fs.usda.gov/ https://www.nifc.gov/