MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Crews were working to contain two wildfires in McDowell County on Thursday afternoon.
U.S. Forest Service firefighters responded to two fires in the areas of Newberry Creek and Buck Creek, the agency said in a social media post. Both fires are the result of power lines downed by high winds.
The Newberry Creek Fire is about 6 acres and is burning in an area with a history of prescribed fires, forest service officials said in the post. Firefighters are improving existing containment lines while a helicopter works to slow the spread of the fire. The U.S. Forest Service is working with the N.C. Forest Service, McDowell County Emergency Management and the Old Fort, Crooked Creek and Pleasant Gardens fire departments.
The Buck Creek Fire is east of Highway 80. While initially reported at 4 acres, the fire increased in size through the afternoon because of wind and burnout operations.
Because of the impacts of Tropical Storm Helene, Highway 80 and Curtis Creek Road are closed except for local traffic. Please avoid these areas while firefighting operations are in progress.
Fire danger is extremely high for most of the state for the next several days, the North Carolina Forest Service said.