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western North Carolina, battered by Hurricane Helene in September, faced a potential wildfire catastrophe due to months of neglect from the previous federal administration. However, timely action by emergency crews averted a disaster akin to the recent Los Angeles wildfires.
Fox Weather reported that as of Thursday, firefighters had fully contained a large wildfire in McDowell County, east of Asheville, the area’s largest city severely damaged by Helene. The fire ignited on Wednesday when high winds toppled a power line, growing to around 220 acres, damaging a home, and prompting an evacuation order, which has since been lifted.
However, according to FOX News Multimedia Reporter Chelsea Torres, the hurricane’s devastation hindered firefighting efforts. “The emergency management of this county had said that it’s a lot of that debris from Helene and the cut-down trees, the dry brush, that’s making it challenging for a lot of these firefighters,” Torres said.
Very sad to see someone's home that was flooded by Hurricane Helene 13 days ago on fire during Hurricane Milton. This was likely caused by wind blowing down a power line. pic.twitter.com/ECtsajQrU1
— Mike Seidel (@mikeseidel) October 10, 2024
Meanwhile, WTVD in Durham reported that crews continued battling a second 200-acre wildfire, which was only 20 percent contained as of Thursday evening, though no additional evacuations were mentioned.
As of Friday morning, the North Carolina Forest Service’s map showed a 120-acre fire in McDowell County, 20 percent contained, with no other active fires larger than 75 acres statewide.
The combination of improved weather conditions and the emergency crews’ efforts appears to have averted a potential disaster, but the lingering debris from Helene, which federal officials failed to address, exacerbated the wildfire risk in the heavily wooded region.
“The emergency management of this county had said that it’s a lot of that debris from Helene and the cut-down trees, the dry brush, that’s making it challenging for a lot of these firefighters,” Torres said.
DEVELOPING! "Out of control" wildfire erupts in North Carolina town still recovering from Hurricane Helene. The fire is crossing over to McDowell County.
🚨Evacuation order issued in mountain community due to ‘out of control’ wildfireÂ
Details: https://t.co/muTUh7Lui3… pic.twitter.com/InCiuIlu2F
— Alex Kennedy (@therealmindman) January 30, 2025
The fact remains that the previous administration provided no aid to the area following Helene and even avoided assisting supporters of now-President Donald Trump, reflecting a broader pattern of incompetence and malice toward ordinary Americans.
Trump visited both North Carolina and Los Angeles last week, hearing firsthand accounts of the federal neglect and expressing support for the affected communities, in contrast to the failings of the previous administration and elected Democrats at the state and local levels.
With Trump back in the White House, residents in western North Carolina and southern California finally have an ally committed to addressing their needs and preventing such crises in the future.