ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Thousands of acres in Western North Carolina continue to burn Sunday night, and several mandatory evacuation orders have been issued.

The Black Cove Complex is a group of three fires burning in Polk County. The complex consists of the Black Cove, Deep Woods and Fish Hook fires.

North Carolina Forest Service personnel have been on the ground since the start of these fires and continue working toward containment and protecting lives and property.

Firefighting has been hampered by the steep terrain of the Green River Gorge where the Black Cove and Deep Woods fires started, NCFS officials said. Another challenge has been the dry, warm and windy conditions that have prevailed across the mountains.

A N.C. Forest Service incident management team has taken command of the fire and will be providing additional information going forward as crews work to put these fires out, according to a statement from the N.C. Forest Service.

The Black Cove Fire was reported Wednesday, March 19, and was last mapped at 2,076 acres, the North Carolina Forest Service said in a statement Sunday night. The fire is burning on state-owned and private land in the Green River Gorge, about 2 miles northeast of Saluda. The fire is burning in timber on steep terrain and is currently 0 percent contained.

To prevent the fire from spreading into neighborhoods and inhabited areas to the west of the fire, firefighting personnel are constructing control lines on both sides of the river.

Evacuation orders issued for residents include:

  • Green River Cove Road addresses from 1091 to 1528
  • Lady Slipper Trail
  • Big Hungry Road
  • Spurgeon Cove Lane
  • English Heifer Cove Road
  • Deer Trail
  • Scarlets Mountain Road

The Fish Hook Fire was reported Thursday, March 20, and was mapped at 199 acres in size, the North Carolina Forest Service said Sunday night. The fire has not grown or spread in the last 24 hours, but acreage estimates have changed because of more accurate mapping. The fire is burning on private land near Lake Adger, about 5 miles northwest of Mill Spring. The Fish Hook Fire is 50 percent contained and forward progress has been stopped.

Firefighters are securing firebreaks along the edges of the fire and extinguishing smoldering fuels. Containment is expected to increase in the coming days, and firefighters will remain on scene until the fire no longer poses a threat.

All evacuations related to the Fish Hook Fire have been lifted.

The Deep Woods Fire was reported Wednesday, March 19, and was last mapped at 2,545 acres, the forest service said.

The fire is burning on state-owned and private land in the Green River Gorge and in the neighboring Holbert Cove community, about 5 miles northwest of Columbus. The fire is burning in timber on steep terrain and was 0 percent contained Sunday night.

Firefighters are providing structure protection on the southern end of the fire and preventing its spread to the south of Holbert Cove Road.

Evacuation orders for residents include:

  • 5079-7265 Holbert Cove Road
  • Fox Paw Lane

A shelter is available at 75 Carmel Lane in Columbus.

The N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has canceled all burning permits statewide  until further notice.