Locust Cove Wildfire Grows to 175 Acres Amid Historic WNC Drought

The Locust Cove Road wildfire in McDowell County's Buck Creek community held at 175 acres with no containment Monday, pressing firefighters across a western North Carolina landscape so parched that Asheville recorded its second driest 60-day stretch in history.

The North Carolina Forest Service issued a statewide burn ban across all 100 counties effective 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28, canceling all previously issued burn permits until further notice. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler pointed directly to conditions on the ground in the mountains. "Vegetative fuels will dry rapidly, and with the amount of fuel loading in the mountains and drought impacts statewide, a burn ban for all 100 counties is necessary to reduce the number of wildfires across our landscape," Troxler said.

The crisis traces back to Hurricane Helene, which left an excess of fallen trees and debris across the mountains and set off a rainfall deficit of nearly 11 inches since September 2025. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than 9.5 million North Carolina residents were living in drought-affected areas, with Buncombe County and surrounding regions classified under severe drought conditions.

NC 80 north of Toms Creek Road to the Yancey County line was shut down due to the active Locust Cove blaze as of Sunday. McDowell County Emergency Management said no evacuation orders were in place, though residents were urged to remain alert and prepared should conditions change.

The North Carolina Forest Service warned that fires could ignite quickly from nearly any source and spread rapidly, with spot fires, new blazes sparked by wind-driven embers, posing a constant additional threat. "Spread prevention, not wildfire," the Forest Service said.

The closest active wildfire to Asheville was a 50-acre fire in neighboring Mitchell County, approximately 20 percent contained according to the N.C. Forest Service wildfire map.

In Buncombe County, the Fire Marshal discouraged open burning this week, citing a prolonged lack of rainfall combined with hot, dry and breezy weather that can easily ignite grass, leaves and other debris. "Help emergency crews protect you and your property by refraining from burning if possible," the county advisory stated. Residents with questions about local burning rules can reach the county's Open Burning Hotline at 828-25-6767.

Rain was expected later in the week, offering potential relief to firefighters working multiple active fronts. The statewide ban remained in effect until further notice from the Forest Service.