From WLOX:
****
“BLACK MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA — Officials say a wildfire that scorched hundreds of acres in Black Mountain is 20 percent contained.
Fire officials say the wind is playing a big role in the difficulty of fighting the fire that’s damaged six structures, including four mobile homes, destroying one of those homes.
Fire officials say the fire started around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday off Exit 66 on Dunsmore Avenue. That’s in the Ridgecrest area of Buncombe County.
More than 500 acres had burned as of 8 p.m., Black Mountain Fire Chief Steve Jones said. He also says the flames were 100-feet tall at one point.
At 3:30 p.m., a helicopter dropped off North Carolina Forest Service crew and then went back up to drop buckets of water on the wildfire.
At least 20 different agencies are on the scene to help contain the wildfire, including Red Cross. Chief Jones says protecting houses is one of the biggest concerns right now.
“We think we have everyone evacuated that needs to be,” Chief Jones said. “However, if you live in this area and you’re close to the fire, we suggest you just leave.”
Homes on Dunsmore Avenue were evacuated, but around 9 p.m. people safely returned back to their homes.”
