ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Two of the largest fire complexes in the Western North Carolina area are nearing containment, officials said Thursday.

Firefighters made steady progress on the Black Cove Complex fires as cold and wet conditions moved back into the area Wednesday, officials said in a news release. Precipitation has played a key role in helping firefighters get ahead this week, allowing resources to complete work faster in damp conditions.

The N.C. Forest Service Red Incident Management Team will turn command of the fires back to the local district, officials said. Repair work and mop-up will continue across the complex, with firefighters extinguishing remaining hotspots. Higher temperatures over the next few days may expose areas that are still smoldering. Light smoke may be seen in the area as firefighters locate and extinguish these hot spots.

BLACK COVE FIRES AT A GLANCE

  • Black Cove Complex total size: 7,670 acres
  • Resources: 23 engines, 365 total personnel

Black Cove

  • Size: 3,502 acres
  • Containment: 97%
  • Cause: Powerline

Deep Woods

  • Size: 3,969 acres
  • Containment: 79%
  • Cause: Under investigation

Fish Hook

  • Size: 199 acres
  • Containment: 100%
  • Cause: Powerline

This will be the final update on the Black Cove Complex unless conditions significantly change.

On Wednesday, firefighters secured the perimeter of the Table Rock Fire. Fire resources will continue to patrol and mop-up any remaining hotspots as containment nears 100 percent, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said.

TABLE ROCK COMPLEX UPDATE

Table Rock Fire

Size: 13,845 acres (13,210 acres  in South Carolina and 635 acres in North Carolina)
Containment: 91%
Cause: Human-caused

Persimmon Ridge Fire

Size: 2,078 acres
Containment: 99%
Cause: Human-caused

CLOSURES/EVACUATIONS: All evacuation orders related to the Table Rock and Persimmon fires have been lifted.

This will be the final update for the Table Rock Complex unless conditions significantly change.

Other fires in Western North Carolina

Rattlesnake Branch Fire

The fire near Cruso is now 1,843 acres and 26 percent contained. Some 93 percent of the fire is within areas where a containment strategy is in place.

The Alarka 5 Fire

The fire burning in the Alarka community near Bryson City is about 1,575 acres. it is about 80 percent contained. The cause of the fire is under investigation. To date, one house and one camper have been lost since the start of the fire.