Wildfire in Wake of Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene left a wake of destruction on the National Forests in North Carolina as over 100 mph winds and raging rivers toppled trees, washed out roads, trails and damaged homes.  

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“We were at a loss for words standing before the mass of destruction,” said Jenifer Bunty, deputy district ranger of the Grandfather Ranger District on Pisgah National Forest.  

Hundreds of miles of roads were blocked by downed trees, making access to remote parts of the forest nearly impossible.  

“Eventually we all came to the same conclusion. The aftermath of Hurricane Helene would set the stage for the next fire season,” said Bunty.  

For Fire Operation Manager Jamie Tyson, the mission was clear: reopen those roads as quickly as possible.  

“Without access, we can’t fight fire,” Tyson said. “Every hour we spend cutting through blocked roads is another hour a fire can grow.” 

Over the next three months, the Grandfather Ranger District mobilized roughly 180 personnel. Crews from North Carolina and across the country, including Georgia, Arkansas, Utah, Montana, Oregon and Alaska, worked together to cut and clear storm debris. By December, they had reopened 236 of the 300 impacted miles of road, giving firefighters the access they needed before the next wildfire.  

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That work proved critical when the North Fork Fire sparked at the end of January- early for fire season in Western North Carolina.  

District Ranger Nick Larson remarked, “If work had not been done to clear Graveyard Mountain Road and Bald Mountain Road, firefighters would have been forced to clear miles of impassable roads, a process that could have taken a week to complete.”  

A delay like that would have allowed the fire to grow significantly, likely to impact nearby communities and roadways, considering the large amount of fuel close by. 

“The closest structure north of the dozer line was less than a mile away, meaning the fire could have easily reached it and other structures west, had this post-storm work not been completed,” said Larson. 

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The fire quickly spread in areas still choked with downed timber from Helene. Efforts to quickly begin backfiring operations to trap flames within the unit were successful; however, the unusual intensity of the flame due to excessive fuels is shown in the photo to the left. Despite challenges, the earlier work paid off. By prioritizing access and preparation, crews were able to protect surrounding communities and keep the fire from spreading further.  

Today, fire crews continue to monitor and repair damage across the National Forests in North Carolina by reestablishing destroyed burn unit control lines, road repairs and continued fuel reduction.  

“We’ll be repairing damage for years to come,” Larson said. “But thanks to our dedicated employees and partners in North Carolina and across the country, we will continue to build resiliency and persevere for the land and the people we serve.”