Black Cove Complex fires scorch 6,500 acres, prompt evacuations in western North Carolina

SALUDA, N.C. — Western North Carolina can’t seem to catch a break. Three fires in Polk County, roughly 25 miles southeast of Asheville, have burned 6,500 acres in a matter of days. Together, the blazes are known as the Black Cove Complex fires – but to the people who live here, it’s yet another tragedy as they pick up the pieces Hurricane Helene left just six months ago.

“Well, truthfully, [we’re] just wanting to handle the problems as they come and make sure we get through this,” says Polk County fire marshal Bobby Arledge.

When asked about the severity of the fires, Arledge says that he’s never seen a complex this big in his career.

The smoke and haze only get worse the farther west you go into Polk County. Residents are the only ones allowed in and out of evacuation zones along Holbert Cove Road in Saluda – they’ve been given minutes to pack up their essentials and leave.

“It’s just scary,” says one evacuee, “I’ve never been through anything like this. Just scary.”

The man tells us he made his way out of the home he’s lived in for the past decade with the help of his son. He wasn’t able to pack much before he had to go.

“Just a few papers and pictures, and away we went with my kitty cat,” the man adds, sitting in the passenger seat of his son’s truck.

Officials have evacuated residents from over 250 homes in the northwestern reaches of the county. Governor Josh Stein declared another State of Emergency for western North Carolina Wednesday as multiple fires rage across the region.

“This is a disaster,” a volunteer from the American Red Cross says.

“As good as the cameraman is, he can’t catch the reality of it in 3-D.”

The Red Cross has set up a shelter at a local senior center at 75 Carmel Lane in Columbus. The volunteer, who lives in Belmont, told us he was helping a woman whose house was destroyed by Helene.

“She said, ‘Now we’ve got this fire and we’ve been told to evacuate,’ so, this is a struggle. But, she said, ‘You know what? There are people who are in a lot worse shape than I am, so I’m grateful.’ That’s the kind of people that come here, and it’s a blessing.”