Six months ago, Southern Appalachia was devastated by Hurricane Helene.Now, after a dry spell and a windy March — the region faces wildfires that are feeding on the downed trees and vegetation that the hurricane knocked to the forest floor.The North Carolina Forest Service has declared one of them "the highest priority fire in the U.S."And due to climate change and population growth, the Carolinas must anticipate a future with more fire danger.Experts and first responders explain the current situation — and the way forward.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Email us at [email protected] more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
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If you mention wildfires, a lot of Americans will think of the western United States, areas like Southern California. But fire is becoming a bigger problem in the southeast as well.
I've definitely responded to more fires each year, it seems like. And I think that everyone who... is in professional firefighting in this region has noticed an increase.
That's Zach O'Donnell. He's the coordinator for the Southern Blue Ridge Prescribed Burn Association, based in western North Carolina. And this week, the State Forest Service declared one of the fires burning there as the highest priority fire in the U.S.
I've seen fire, flame lengths higher than I've ever seen this year as well, climbing through the rhododendron, 30, 40-foot flames, which for this region is pretty rare.
O'Donnell would rather not be helping fight active fires. Usually, he's educating landowners about fire prevention and leading controlled burns to reduce the risk of bigger fires. And right now, risk is high. Six months ago, Hurricane Helene ravaged mountainous forested areas like in Asheville, North Carolina.
All those downed trees, combined with a dry spring and high winds, it creates dangerous wildfire conditions.
Just the amount of debris down in the forest has made it extremely challenging to fight the fires in the traditional way. We're having to back up and really think large scale on a lot of these and know our topography and take our time and make sure we're not putting our firefighters in harm's way.
Jeremy Knighton is assistant fire chief in Asheville. He explained there are multiple wildfires burning across thousands of acres in a region which, again, six months ago saw those devastating floods.
you know, the communities around us have suffered tremendous loss already. And now these fires on top of that, and we know we've lost structures, you know, in these surrounding counties. And we're just, really on edge.
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