Wildfire Map Spotlight: Polk County, North Carolina

What is the name and location of the wildfires?

As of April 11, 2025, three major wildfires were fully contained in western North Carolina: the Black Cove, Deep Woods, and Fish Hook fires (1). They had burned across seven miles of mountains in Polk County, and affecting nearby Henderson County (2).

The fires were in a mountainous region impacted by Hurricane Helene, including forests and woodlands near Green River Gorge, Holbert Cove, and Lake Adger.

Dry conditions across the Carolinas created an elevated fire risk. High winds were fanning the flames, complicating containment efforts.

Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire?

The fires were impacting Polk County and Henderson County, with mandatory evacuations in areas near Green River Cove Road, Big Hungry Road, Holbert Cove Road, and Fox Paw Lane.

The town of Saluda was also at risk, as the Black Cove Fire was burning less than two miles away. Other nearby communities are Columbus and Mill Spring.

What is the current containment status of the wildfire?

As of April 11, 2025, the Black Cove Fire is fully contained and burned over 3,502 acres (3). The Deep Woods Fire is fully contained and burned approximately 3,969 acres. The Fish Hook Fire is fully contained and burned 199 acres.

Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?

Evacuation orders were lifted for areas near the Fish Hook Fire (4).

How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?

Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.

• Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
• Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
• Run a high-performance air purifier to filter wildfire smoke.
• Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
• Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.

As of April 11, 2025, the Black Cove fire, the Deep Woods fire, and the Fish Hook fire are all 100% contained.