ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Most of Western North Carolina is under a Red Flag Warning because of dry, windy conditions.

Dry air will linger across the area Tuesday, while winds will increase from the west and southwest ahead of a mostly dry cold front. Sustained winds of 10 to 20 mph, with gusts of 25 to 35 mph, are expected across much of the area Tuesday afternoon.

Winds will shift to the northwest behind the front Tuesday evening, although speeds will begin to diminish. With 10-hour fuel moisture already less than 10 across much of the area, conditions will be favorable for the rapid spread of wildfire across much of the foothills and portions of the mountains of the Carolinas and northeast Georgia.

A Red Flag Warning means critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. Do not burn!

The warning, which is in effect until 9 p.m., comes as wildfires continue to burn in Polk County.

Here’s the latest fire information, according to the N.C. Forest Service:

  • Black Cove Fire: 2,813 acres, 0% contained
  • Deep Woods Fire: 2,742 acres, 0% contained
  • Fish Hook Fire: 199 acres, 69% contained

N.C. Forest Service said firefighters from South Carolina, Michigan, Montana, Tennessee, Oregon, South Dakota and California, as well as across North Carolina, have arrived to help, and more resources are on the way.

Recent rainfall in the fire area totaled about 0.05 inches.

“Despite this, fire behavior remains active, and firefighters continue engaging the fire in an attempt to keep it from spreading, and threatening homes and structures,” the N.C. Forest Service said in a statement.

Aircraft are being used to drop water on the fire while bulldozers and firefighters on the ground build fuel breaks in the path of the fire’s spread. Local and statewide fire departments are preparing and supporting structure protection near the fire in case the fire moves, the forest service said.

In recent days, the Black Cove Fire has made a push to the northwest, crossing into Henderson County in the upper reaches of the Big Hungry River.

CLICK HERE TO SEE INTERACTIVE FIRE MAP FOR HENDERSON COUNTY

The N.C. Forest Service and Henderson County Emergency Management will host a community meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday to share information about the Black Cove Complex. The meeting will be held at Biltmore Church, 103A Education Drive, Flat Rock.

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