Crooked Creek Fire prompts evacuations in Western North Carolina
It’s believed that a downed power line sparked the blaze, which - aided by warm temperatures and wind gusts close to 50 mph - has grown to over 250 acres.
OLD FORT, N.C. — “It was obvious there was a problem and it was out of control… The smoke was just rolling right through us.”
Old Fort resident David Riggi spoke to WCCB Charlotte over the phone Wednesday evening after what officials are calling the Crooked Creek Fire forced him to evacuate from his home.
“As soon as I left, I saw the smoke coming out and a lot of colors with it and stuff. And I said, ‘that’s not good,'” Riggi recalls, “The wind was blowing so hard and the power was already out in the house.”
It’s believed that a downed power line sparked the blaze, which – aided by warm temperatures and wind gusts close to 50 mph – has grown to over 250 acres as of Wednesday
“That whole valley is completely covered with smoke,” Jay Schulz laments, “It’s just tough to see.”
Schulz runs Side By Side Media in nearby Asheville. He was driving to meet a client when he saw smoke billowing next to the road.
“I drove a little bit closer to where it was, and then put my drone in the air to fly and get a better vantage point of what was actually happening,” Schulz says.
And this is what he saw.
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Dozens of residents have been asked to leave ahead of the raging inferno – which continues to grow at a rapid pace. Schulz says it’s hard to see his community go through yet another hardship.
“It’s difficult to drive around doing the work that I do and see all of the areas that have been impacted by Helene, and then for me to go through an area that was lightly impacted have to deal with a fire on top of everything else.”
But Schulz knows this is just one more challenge the community will rise up to meet.
“The good thing is that western North Carolina and the people of Appalachia are a community of tight-knit people. We are hard working. We are not going to be defeated,” Schulz beams.
And Riggi – now staying with a friend on the other side of McDowell County – agrees.
“It’s still a great place to live,” Riggi says, “You know, the mountains of North Carolina are really a dream of sorts, and I don’t know where to go that would be any better.”
The North Carolina Forest Service says 255 active wildfires can be found across the state as of Wednesday evening – but the Crooked Creek Fire is currently the biggest. The good news is that more rain chances are on the way – hopefully they can bring some relief to an area that still needs so much help.
