Debris from Helene could fuel N.C. wildfires for next decade, officials say

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — North Carolina fire officials are warning this fall wildfire season could be dangerous as debris left from Helene could fuel wildfires.

The large amount of debris that is still on the ground in western North Carolina can continue to pose a threat for several years, according to the North Carolina Forest Service.

“We experienced roughly 822,000 acres of damaged forest land in western North Carolina,” Philip Jackson, the public information officer for the North Carolina Forest Service, said. ”That ranges from minimal damage to total loss, meaning the trees are on the ground, so there’s another fuel source that’s been lying on the ground for about a year now drying out and becoming more available.”

“It’s not going to be a quick fix, and it’s going to be with us for quite some time,” Jackson added. “I would categorize this as the probably new norm when it comes to the next five or 10 year time period.”

Debris can also make it more difficult for firefighters to battle flames by creating obstacles as they maneuver the terrain.

“It’s in our way,” Jackson said. “We either have to cut through it, remove it and navigate it somehow or we have to find a new way to the fire. As we’re doing that, the fire is obviously spreading. It also makes it much more difficult for us to access certain roads if they’re blocked by trees.”

Debris from Helene played a big role in fueling wildfires in western North Carolina in the spring. Officials said 3,952 wildfires burned in the state between January and May 2025. During the same time period in 2024, there were 2,835 wildfires.

Three large fires formed the Black Cove Complex Fire in March 2025, burning thousands of acres in Henderson and Polk counties and destroying homes and buildings. According to Jackson, the fires grew so fast because of high winds and debris in the forest.

“Wildfires went much bigger than they otherwise would have due to the storm debris,” he said.

The Henderson County Fire Department is preparing for this wildfire season by urging people in their community to take precautions by clearing brush around their homes.

“Clear out the underbrush,” Kevin Waldrup, the Henderson County fire marshal, said. “Clear out dead limbs underneath your trees. [For] your house itself, you can do stuff like clean out the gutters and make sure leaves don’t pile up underneath the deck.”