North Carolina

No deaths reported amid 8 active wildfires in North Carolina, gov. says

Published

11 months ago

March 27, 2025

No deaths reported amid 8 active wildfires in North Carolina, gov. says

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – No deaths had been reported yet in connection with ongoing wildfires burning in parts of North Carolina over the last several days, the governor said Thursday.

Multiple buildings and structures had been damaged or destroyed by eight active wildfires burning in multiple counties — most notably in Polk County, located in Western North Carolina. No deaths had been listed in connection with the fires, however, the governor said during a press conference on Thursday, March 27.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein on Thursday made a new emergency declaration for the state due to the fires. The declaration opens up federal funding and resources to aid with fire response and recovery efforts.

Three fires were burning in Polk County as of March 20.(Polk County Local Government)

North Carolina was already under a state of emergency because of the deadly Hurricane Helene, which hit the state exactly six months earlier. At least 106 North Carolinians died because of the storm, with more deaths reported in nearby states.

Helene hit western North Carolina particularly hard, devastating communities across and along the mountain region in September 2024. Severe flooding and strong winds destroyed homes, businesses, entire roadways and more during Helene.

In stark contrast, the region has been dealing with wildfires exactly six months post-Helene. Emergencies were issued in recent days for counties in parts of Western North Carolina and South Carolina, where evacuation orders were also underway for some.

—> More: 6 months after Hurricane Helene, Western North Carolina hit by wildfires

Gov. Stein said Thursday that the new state of emergency declaration would enable the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, to reimburse costs related to response and efforts. Some reimbursements from FEMA had already been promised, Stein said.

Statewide “mutual aid” had also been activated by the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal, the office announced Thursday. Fire departments throughout North Carolina, in addition to several departments from around the U.S., were deploying personnel and equipment to help suppress the fires.

Active wildfires as of Thursday

There were eight wildfires active in North Carolina as of 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, officials shared in a press release.

Below are the fires, their locations, how many acres have burned, and how contained they are as of Thursday — according to the office of state fire marshal:

Black Cove Fire, Polk County: 3,052 acres burned, 17% contained
Alarka #5 Fire, Swain County: 750 acres burned, 0% contained
Rattlesnake Branch Fire, Haywood County: 175 acres burned, 0% contained
Montieth Branch Fire, Jackson County: 50 acres burned, 0% contained
Deep Woods Fire, Polk County: 3,231 acres burned, 11% contained
Crusoe Island Road Fire, Columbus County: 343 acres burned, 75% contained
Fish Hook Fire, Polk County: 199 acres burned, 86% contained
Holly Shelter Road Fire, New Hanover County: 340 acres burned, 95% contained

You can find a map of active wildfires on the state’s website here.

Pickens County Emergency Management announced crews are responding to two large brush fires... — Pickens County Emergency Management announced crews are responding to two large brush fires that started on Wednesday.(Fox Carolina News)

Evacuations active due to Black Cove fire

A fire called the Black Cove Complex fire, burning in Polk and Henderson counties in North Carolina, was listed this week as the highest priority fire in the Southern United States by the National Interagency Fire Center.

Three fires make up the complex: Black Cove, Deep Woods, and Fish Hook.

New evacuations were ordered on March 26 to include the following areas in Polk County:

Coyote Ridge
3155-6159 Holbert Cove Road
Sam’s Gap Lane

The areas already under evacuation for the fires include the following areas in Polk and Henderson counties:

Big Hungry Road
Charity Branch Drive
Deep Woods Lane
Deer Trail
English Heifer Cove
Fox Paw Lane
Gamelands Trail
1091 to 1528 Green River Cove Road
5079 – 7265 Holbert Cove Road
Lady Slipper Trail
Macedonia Road east of Interstate 26
Moonshine Trace
Oakview Lane
Piney Gate Road
Piney Overlook Lane
Scarlets Mountain Road
Skyland Acres Road
South Fine Way
Spurgeon Cove Lane
Summer Haven Lane
Volley Way
Wesley Lane
Windsong Lane

A Polk County emergency shelter hosted by the American Red Cross is located at the Polk County Senior Center/Meeting Place at 75 Carmel Lane in Columbus.

Pets are not accepted at the shelter, but anyone who needs to board their animals due to evacuations can call Polk County Animal Control at 828-817-7984.

Animal control officers recommended that pet owners grab copies of their pets’ health and vaccination records in the event they have to evacuate.

A Henderson County emergency shelter is active at the Henderson County Parks & Recreation Athletics and Activities Center at 208 South Grove Street in Hendersonville.

—> Severe air quality alerts issued for western North Carolina amid fires

Swain County evacuations

Evacuations were also underway in Swain County, where a wildfire was burning in the Alarka Community, according to the North Carolina Emergency Management department. Those required to evacuate were being notified directly, officials said on March 26.

The fire — which was “moving toward Frye Mountain, Shepard’s Creek, and Conley’s Creek,” officials said Wednesday — was believed to span more than 1,000 acres, and was 0% contained, as of 3:40 p.m.

It was the fourth wildfire reported in North Carolina at the time it was reported. It was not immediately clear if the fire in Rutherford County was considered a wildfire.

How to receive fire updates

The Polk County government and the North Carolina Forest Service are providing regular updates on the fire on their Facebook pages. Full press releases and other local resources for Polk County residents are available through the county fire marshal and emergency management website, found here.

Polk County residents can click here to sign up for the Everbridge emergency notification system used by county officials.

Henderson County residents can find updates through the Henderson County website here. They can sign up for the county’s emergency alert program by clicking here and filling out the required information.

Fire and emergency officials held a meeting on Tuesday, March 25, for Henderson County residents to get updates on the fires. Anyone who didn’t make it to the meeting can watch it here.

—> South Carolina fire allegedly started by teens triples in size, burns through mountains

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North Carolina

NC Made: Durham’s Old Hillside Bourbon toasts Black heritage one bottle at a time

Published

5 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

NC Made: Durham’s Old Hillside Bourbon toasts Black heritage one bottle at a time

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — Bourbon is more than a business for Jesse Carpenter — it’s a tribute to the city that shaped him.

“This is Durham. This is where I’m from. This is where I grew up,” said Carpenter, Chief Product Officer of Old Hillside Bourbon.

The company he co-founded with childhood friends takes its name and identity from one of Durham’s most iconic institutions-Hillside High School, one of the oldest historically Black high schools in the nation.

“We graduated Class of 1993 from Hillside High School,” Carpenter said. “Concord and Lawson Street. It’s the old Hillside.”

The idea took root during the pandemic when Carpenter proposed starting a bourbon company to those same friends.

“I had an idea to start a bourbon company, and they were on board,” he said. “Friends from 30 years ago, and now we’re doing this business together. It’s awesome.”

From 300 Cases to 10,000

What began as a pandemic-era idea has evolved into a rapidly growing business.

In its inaugural year, Old Hillside distributed 300 cases; this year, the company anticipates 10,000. The bourbon also earned Best in Show at the 2023 TAG Global Spirits Awards, impressing even the most discerning craft bourbon critics.

“Let me focus on the aroma — layers of oak, vanilla,” one reviewer commented on the Bourbon Banter YouTube channel, concluding with, “I think it’s a great taste.”

SEE MORE NC MADE STORIES

A Bottle Full of Stories

Beyond its flavor, Old Hillside stands out for the history embedded in its label. Each vintage pays homage to a chapter of Black American history that might otherwise remain overlooked.

The inaugural bottle features a photo of the old Hillside High building, symbolizing the school’s deep community ties. A second flavor pays tribute to the African American jockeys who dominated the Kentucky Derby before the Jim Crow era effectively pushed them out of the sport. The company’s latest release honors the Harlem Hellfighters, the renowned all-Black military unit that served with distinction in World War I.

It’s a storytelling approach that Carpenter and his team are actively working to spread across North Carolina. Brand ambassadors Corey Carpenter and Amire Schealey are on the front lines of that effort.

“More bars and restaurants — tackling different markets,” said Corey Carpenter. Schealey added that the team is “setting up tastings at different ABC boards to build up our brand and presence around the state of North Carolina.”

Like many acclaimed bourbons, Old Hillside is distilled and bottled in Kentucky. But its founders are quick to point out where its true spirit comes from.

“Old Hillside is a lifestyle,” Jesse Carpenter said. “Not just a school-friendship and camaraderie. That’s what we do.”

SEE ALSO | NC Made: Raleigh jewelry brand AnnaBanana grows from UNC dorm room to statewide success

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North Carolina

State and local leaders discuss ‘child-care crisis’ in NC

Published

17 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

State and local leaders discuss ‘child-care crisis’ in NC

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — State and local leaders gathered in Durham on Thursday to discuss how they say North Carolina’s ‘child-care crisis’ is taking a toll on our communities.

“We’re demanding recognition,” former childcare provider DeeDee Fields said. “We want fair compensation. We want health protections and a retirement pathway for the workforce that makes all the work possible.”

Childcare is one of the biggest expenses North Carolinians face, with infant care more costly than in-state college tuition per year, according to data. Childcare for a four-year-old costs nearly $8,000 a year.

Since 2020, North Carolina has seen a record loss of licensed childcare programs. Durham County, for example, experienced a 14% drop.

“I think a lot of people are making these tough choices about what makes the most sense for their family,” Nylah Jimerson said.

Jimerson used to work as a nanny before she became a parent. She’s one of more than a quarter of parents in North Carolina who left the workforce to stay home to care for children.

As North Carolina is the only state without a new budget, childcare is top of mind for State Sen. Sophia Chitlik, who co-authored a package of bills that aims to better support the industry, including making childcare more affordable.

“The ‘Child Care Omnibus’ is part of a series of bills that have budget requirements and budget asks in them,” Chitlik said. “But we’re not going to know until we get a state budget. The most urgent and important thing, in addition to those subsidies, is raising the subsidy floor … so I hope that there is bipartisan consensus that would be worked out in a state budget.”

North Carolina could remain without a budget until the legislature is back in session in April.

“We have got to do something about childcare,” Sen. Natalie Murdock said. “We shouldn’t be in this position … we have to have a sustainable model and program because it’s about our children.”

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North Carolina

Lawmakers discuss solutions to solving a 'child care crisis' in NC

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Lawmakers discuss solutions to solving a 'child care crisis' in NC

State and local leaders are meeting in Durham to talk about solutions to what lawmakers call a “child care crisis” in North Carolina. There will also be local leaders discussing other solutions to improve child care services and make them more affordable.

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