Exclusive details: Wildfires in Polk County grow to over 3,100 acres, forcing evacuations amid statewide burn ban
Congressmen Tim Moore and Chuck Edwards share representation of the county, but only Moore has been seen on the front lines as fires rage and residents evacuate.
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POLK COUNTY, N.C. — Wildfires continue to rage across Polk County, now covering more than 3,100 acres, with two major blazes still at 0% containment, according to the North Carolina Forest Service and Polk County Emergency Management.
As I’ve reported, the fires have forced mandatory evacuations in several communities, as thick smoke leads to deteriorating air quality. The state Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality declared a Code Red Air Quality Action Day Saturday and Sunday, warning that prolonged exposure to the smoke can be harmful to everyone, particularly children, older adults, and people with respiratory conditions.
“Prolonged exposure to the air may be unhealthy for anyone,” the alert stated. “All residents should consider limiting prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. Anyone sensitive to air pollution should avoid outdoor exertion.”
Statewide Burn Ban in Effect
In response to the dry, dangerous conditions, the North Carolina Forest Service issued a statewide open burning ban on Thursday. The ban took effect at 8 a.m. on March 21 and will remain until further notice. All burning permits have been canceled.
State officials have warned that violators of the ban face a $100 fine plus $183 in court costs. Additionally, anyone responsible for starting a fire could be held liable for the full cost of extinguishing it.
“We cannot afford additional fires to pull resources away from the ones we are actively battling,” said North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “This ban is necessary to protect lives, property, and our first responders.”
Current Fire Conditions
The most severe fires remain largely uncontained, with exhausted crews working through difficult terrain.
Black Cove Fire – Sparked by a downed power line along Green River Cove Road, the fire has burned approximately 1,239 acres and has 0% containment, as of 6:00 p.m. on March 22.
Deep Woods Fire – This fire has spread across 1,703 acres and remains at 0% containment, as of 6:00 p.m. on March 22. On March 21 at 8:00 a.m. officials reported it was at 332 acres. One home was destroyed, and two other structures were damaged, officials said. Investigators are still working to determine the cause.
Fish Hook Fire – Also caused by a downed power line on Thursday evening, this fire has burned 199 acres and is now 50% contained. Three homes were destroyed, and one additional structure was damaged. The evacuation order for the area of Lake Adger was lifted Saturday night.
Challenging Conditions for Fire Crews
First responders are facing significant challenges due to downed trees and damaged roads left behind by Hurricane Helene.
“The main impact that we're seeing is access issues,” said North Carolina Forest Service Public Information Officer E.J. Dwigans. “Our crews are having to spend a lot of time cutting through fallen trees with chainsaws just to get to where the fire is. Some of the bridges and roads that we see on older maps are no longer available to us.”
FEMA temporarily closed their disaster recovery center in Columbus, due to poor air quality.
Evacuations and Shelters
Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for multiple communities. Residents in these areas are urged to leave immediately:
Deep Woods Fire Evacuations
Deep Woods Lane
Wesley Lane
Piney Overlook Lane
Piney Gate Road
Gamelands Trail
Oakview Lane
Volley Way
Charity Branch Drive
Windsong Lane
Moonshine Trace
Fish Hook Fire Evacuations
Lake Adger Road from Regan Jackson Road to Highland View Lane
Parkway North from Lake Adger Road to North Park Lane
North Park Lane
North Boundary Road
Black Cove Fire Evacuations
5079-7265 Holbert Cove Road (North Side)
Fox Paw Lane
Green River Cove Evacuations
1091-1528 Green River Cove Road
Lady Slipper Trail
A shelter for evacuees is open at 75 Carmel Lane in Columbus. Additionally, Polk County Animal Services is assisting those evacuating with pets or large animals. Residents needing help can call Patti Lovelace at 828-817-7984.
Congressman Tim Moore Visits, Edwards Absent
While emergency crews battle the fires, Congressman Tim Moore, who represents part of Polk County, visited the affected areas to meet with officials and first responders. In a statement on March 21, Moore said:
“Polk County is currently battling active wildfires that are putting serious strain on local resources. I met with Divisional Forester Michael Cheek, first responders, and emergency officials to see the response efforts firsthand and to discuss what support is needed to make sure this area is taken care of. I’m grateful for the tireless work of everyone on the front lines protecting our communities.”
Moore’s presence highlighted the urgency of the situation, but Congressman Chuck Edwards, who also represents portions of Polk County, has yet to make a known public appearance in the area.
How to Help
Polk County officials ask that donations not be brought to fire stations. Instead, items can be dropped off at:
Foothills Community Church, 2720 Landrum Road, Columbus
Friendship Baptist Church, Friendship Church Road, Saluda
With containment efforts ongoing and air quality remaining hazardous, residents are encouraged to stay alert for further updates. Authorities urge compliance with evacuation orders and burn bans to prevent further devastation.
A community meeting is scheduled for Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at the Womack Building in Columbus.
There are multiple fires across North Carolina currently, according to the NC Forest Service map, where you may zoom in to see more details about each fire (note: It seems to work best on a computer, not a mobile device).
Opinion & Analysis: Cops & Congress commentary
Time for Clear Communication in Polk County
In times of crisis, clear and accessible communication is critical. Unfortunately, Polk County’s new Public Information Officer (PIO) Kellie Cannon seems to be missing the mark in my view. Instead of providing written updates, she’s relying heavily on live videos on Facebook. While video updates can be helpful, they shouldn’t be the only means of communication — especially during emergencies like the ongoing wildfires. Many residents have reported to me that they have not received text alerts through Everbridge. I also have not seen any public statements from the town’s Emergency Management Director, Bobby Arledge. Arledge’s taxpayer-funded salary is over $81,000. It is unclear how much Cannon makes, her position was not publicly advertised with a salary and she was recently hired.
In a particularly confusing video, accompanied by text with poor spelling and grammar on March 19, she misidentified key roads. “Clarification: The NC Forest Service names [sic] the fire, while it was initiated off of Green River Cove Rd, the NCFS chose to named [sic] the fire Black Cove Fire. Polk County does not have any control on [sic] what the fire is named. Sorry if this caused any confusion. Scarlets Mountian [sic] is off of Big Hungry Rd.”
Note: For non-journalists, [sic] means as it was written, to signal that a quote or passage is reproduced exactly as it was originally written, even if it contains errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation.
For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, the absence of accurate captions means they are left in the dark. Automated captions often fail to capture critical information accurately, leaving viewers scrambling for clarification. Accessibility is a legal and moral obligation, not an afterthought. (I’m mostly deaf.)
Then there’s the issue of spotty cell service. Many residents in Polk County’s rural areas don’t have reliable internet access. For them, watching a live stream simply isn’t an option. And those who aren’t on Facebook? They’re out of luck entirely. Emergency updates should be distributed across multiple platforms and formats — including written updates on official county websites, emails, and local news outlets.
It’s also worth noting that videos are not easily searchable. If someone needs to find evacuation details or road closures, scrolling through hours of livestream recordings is inefficient and frustrating. A concise written summary would ensure residents have quick, clear access to the facts.
Polk County’s PIO has an opportunity to improve. Here’s what I think should happen immediately:
Post written updates – Every video update should be accompanied by a detailed written summary. This ensures accessibility for those who can’t hear or watch the videos.
Ensure captions are accurate – Invest in reliable captioning services instead of relying solely on error-prone automated captions.
Provide multi-platform communication – Updates should be sent via email, posted on the county website, and shared through text alerts. Facebook alone is not enough.
Think about accessibility first – Communication is only effective if it reaches everyone. County leaders need to ensure that people with disabilities are prioritized in their emergency response strategy.
Residents deserve better. In a crisis, every second counts — and that means ensuring that everyone gets the information they need when they need it. It's time for Polk County to step up.
🏛️ All those mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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This is devastating. So sad…