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Extension covers Polk, 33 other counties

 

POLK COUNTY—On April 26, Governor Josh Stein extended the State of Emergency for the western North Carolina wildfires in 34 counties, including Polk. The State of Emergency extension will last for 30 days.

“I appreciate all of the first responders, emergency managers, state forest rangers, and state and local officials working hard to protect North Carolinians from wildfires,” said Gov. Stein. “I am extending this State of Emergency to ensure the State Emergency Response Team has every resource available to continue to respond to wildfires to protect people and property.”

North Carolina Emergency Management Director Will Ray said emergency management has done a great job so far this wildfire season.

“I remain incredibly proud of our state’s local emergency managers and public safety personnel, and they have done a tremendous job with managing these wildfires since March,” said Ray. “From issuing evacuation orders to opening shelters for those displaced to working closely with state and federal forest service personnel to support the response, they remain a critical part of public safety here in North Carolina.”

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said the spring wildfire season is off to a very busy start, which has kept the N.C. Forest Service, first responders, and emergency management staff on their toes. 

“Already in March and April, we have responded to 2,348 wildfire incidents involving over 23,000 acres,” explained Troxler. “I appreciate the Governor extending the State of Emergency and making resources available, especially with the elevated risk of wildfires in Western NC. I also urge people to use extreme caution when doing any burning.”

As many communities continue to see dry conditions and the recurrence of wildfire activity, the State Emergency Response Team continues to maintain regular communication with the North Carolina Forest Service and with county emergency management offices to ensure that first responders, state forest firefighters, and state forest rangers have the tools needed to keep people safe.  

The State of Emergency includes the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey, as well as the tribal lands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.