Smoke from Carolina wildfires triggers ‘Code Purple’ air quality alert in Western N.C.
Wildfires continue to grow across bother North and South Carolina under dry, breezy conditions impacting air quality across Western North Carolina and the South Carolina Upstate.
Wildfire Updates:
Black Cove Fire
- 3,052 acres
- 17% contained
- Active fire behavior expected
Deep Woods Fire
- 3,231 acres
- 11% contained
- Still very active
Fish Hook
- 199 acres
- 86% contained
Table Rock Complex Fire (Table Rock and Persimmon Fires)
- 6,109 acres
- 0% contained
- Producing significant smoke
Anarka #5
- 650 acres
- 0% contained
Air Quality Outlook
Dry air and above-average temperatures will keep the fire danger threat elevated through the start of the weekend. As the fire activity increases so does the smoke production. A shift in the winds is pushing the smoke northward. The North Carolina DEQ issued a rare Code Purple air quality alert for Transylvania County – signaling very unhealthy air. Code red alerts are in effect in Henderson, Polk, and Swain counties, and code orange for Rutherford counties. Smoke from the wildfires is also impacting the South Carolina Upstate and a shift in winds will likely lead to more smoke pushing north and east through the start of the weekend.
Officials urge residents to limit outdoor activity, especially in areas with Code Red or Code Purple alerts, and for all residents to be prepared for rapidly changing smoke conditions due to the shifting winds.
