POLK COUNTY, N.C. — Wildfire smoke is filling neighborhoods in Polk County, forcing evacuations as the fires burn cars and buildings.
Shelters have been opened for those displaced by the fires, which have damaged seven buildings and burned 1,000 acres by lunchtime today.
“It was chaos,” said Chris Franks, who tried to save his son’s home along Fish Hook Lane but was unsuccessful due to the strong winds. " We were up here trying to put the fire out and couldn’t get it out. The fire department came and the winds picked up. After that happened, it was all she wrote.”
Chris Franks showed Channel 9′s Dave Faherty the remains of his son’s home, which was destroyed by the wildfire along with their cars and a neighbor’s garage.
Less than a mile away, a mountain home that had just sold was also destroyed by flames overnight.
Amanda Skutthes, a renter in the area, expressed concern for the community, saying, “I just feel bad for all the people that live here with Helene and this back to back. I really hope that the beauty can stay intact.”
Residents were seen moving their RVs and equipment away from the flames to prevent further loss.
CFD responding to Polk County wildfires
Faherty was in Polk County also as fire crews from Charlotte, Cleveland County, and Grover worked to help put the wildfires out.
They were working to protect structures such as a Baptist church using water from the Green River.
Faherty spoke with officials at a staging area for the North Carolina Forest Service and volunteer departments.
“It’s what we train for. We’re sad that it happens but we’re all glad to join in together and work as one team,” said Assistant Chief Jimmy Hensley of the Grover Fire Department.
Faherty saw people scrambling to move campers and other equipment away from the fires.
Residents told Channel 9 winds reached 40 miles per hour overnight Thursday, causing spot fires across the mountainside.
Polk County officials said as many as seven buildings have burned in the three fires.
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Neighbors spoke with Channel 9 Friday and said they were concerned about the winds picking up again.
“Just keep everything away from the brush line as best we can,” one resident said. “The winds down here have really pushing the fire even more.”
The other concern is not only the winds but the very low humidity, which was expected to bottom out Friday afternoon.
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