(Is there a history?)
From the rolling mountains in the west to the 300 miles of barrier island beaches to the east, North Carolina is filled with natural beauty. The Tar Heel State is home to a wide variety of wildlife as well as hiking spots and parks that people love to explore year-round. But, wildfires in North Carolina threaten to damage all this wild and green space.
In 2024, the North Carolina Forest Service officially recorded a total of 4,588 fires. And, by April 2025, the agency had already tallied over 3,700 wildfires, an 80% increase from the previous year, thanks to debris left behind by Hurricane Helene. Extended dry periods or drought is another extraordinary cause of wildfires in North Carolina.
The state typically expects an uptick in wildfires between mid-March and mid-April (spring fire season) and then by late September to October (fall fire season), according to the North Carolina State Climate Office. The no. 1 cause of these fires: people. “We’re our own worst enemy,” Philip Jackson, a spokesperson for the N.C. Forest Service, told the Carolina Public Press.
Whether it’s from careless campers, people burning debris, or others not following outdoor fire safety rules, most of these fires could have been prevented. A simple mistake can lead to something that’s not just dangerous, but also damaging to the environment and extremely costly to fix.
Wildfire History in North Carolina
Wildfires have been part of North Carolina’s landscape for centuries. For instance, a group of researchers discovered charcoal preserved in peat bogs—clear proof that wildfires happened in the past. Additionally, Native Americans used to burn their fields after harvest to keep the land healthy.
Fast forward to the late 1800s, people began cutting down large areas of forest to collect timber. As a result, fire-adapted trees were replaced with smaller and thinner plants. These dried out fast and allowed fires to start easily and spread quickly. To protect the forest and address wildfire concerns, fire exclusion was implemented.
By the 1930s, controlled burning had basically stopped in federal land. In 1944, the U.S. Forest Service authorized the Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention campaign that reminded everyone: “Only you can prevent wildfires.”
However, even with good intentions, leaving forests unmanaged led to more wildfire problems, especially during dry seasons in the 1940s and 1950s. These dry periods paved the way for some of the most destructive wildfires North Carolina has ever seen, including the state’s largest recorded wildfire.
Notable Wildfires in North Carolina
- 1955 Lake Phelps Fire
On the night of March 29, 1955, North Carolina’s largest wildfire on record started near Lake Phelps in Hyde, Tyrelle, and Washington counties. The fire is believed to have been started on purpose, but no one was ever caught.
Strong winds reaching up to 23 mph helped the flames spread quickly and unpredictably. However, firefighters struggled to reach the fire due to thick smoke, lack of roads, and soft and muddy ground that made it hard for heavy equipment to move.
It took eight to 10 days to finally get the fire under control through the efforts of the state forestry division, coast guard, the army, Marine Corps, and about half an inch of rainfall on April 6 and 7. In total, the fire burned an estimated 203,000 acres and caused about $3 to $4 million in damage.
- 1985 Allen Road Fire
Thirty years later, Hyde and Tyrrell counties experienced another major wildfire known as the Allen Road Fire. This time, it was caused by machinery that was being used to mine peat soil, a material that becomes highly flammable when dried. The fire quickly spread and burned almost 95,000 acres. The damage was severe, with timber losses estimated at up to $30 million. Additionally, 24 homes and a businesswere damaged.
- 2008 Evans Road Fire
After a warm and dry end to 2007, drought conditions continued across North Carolina in 2008. Because of this, the state experienced its worst spring and summer wildfire seasons in more than 20 years. One of the most serious fires during that time was the Evans Road Fire.
On June 1, 2008, lightning struck a private land in the south of the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. The fire quickly spread and eventually burned about 41,060 acres across Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington counties. Around 60% of the affected area was within the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to endangered red wolves, black bears, and hundreds of migratory bird species.
At the peak of efforts, the North Carolina Department of Forestry estimates that over 500 people from 50 agencies worked to contain the fire. They pumped about two billion gallons of water to flood the area and put out underground hotspots. On September 24, after nearly four months, the fire was fully contained, and it was officially declared put out on January 9, 2009. The total cost of battling the fire was more than $18 million.
- 2016 Party Rock Fire
A 17-year-old started the Party Rock Fire with a single cigarette that burned over 7,000 acres around Lake Lure, Chimney Rock, and Bat Cave. From November 5 to 29, the fire covered the area in thick smoke and forced firefighters to work nonstop to keep it from destroying homes and businesses.
More than 700 firefighters and Forest Service workers came from across the country to help. They used planes, helicopters, and bulldozers, and even built fire lines by hand. According to the N.C. Forest Service, the fire burned nearly 2,500 acres of state park land and over 4,600 acres of private property, with damages totaling about $7.9 million.
- 2023 Great Lakes Fire
A fire in the Croatan National Forest was first seen on April 19, 2023, and in just two days, it exploded in size from 7,000 acres to more than 32,000 acres. On April 22, smoke from the fire affected the air quality across cities, including Greenville, Kinston, New Bern, and Washington. It took over two and a half months and an estimated $12 million to fully contain the fire. Officials confirmed that the fire was caused by human activity.
Wildfires: Costly, Human-Caused and Preventable
Fighting wildfires costs millions of dollars and puts entire communities at serious risk. Beyond the financial toll, wildfires damage wildlife habitats, pollute the air, and scar some of the most beautiful landscapes in North Carolina. But the good news is that most of these fires are preventable.
Smokey Bear’s original 1944 catchphrase, “Care Will Prevent 9 out of 10 Forest Fires,” remains just as relevant more than 80 years later. Recent statistics show that nearly 99% of wildfires in North Carolina are caused by human activity. This highlights just how important responsible behavior is in preventing these costly and life-threatening disasters.
Every North Carolinian and visitor can play a role in protecting the state’s natural beauty. It starts with small but impactful actions: Always put out campfires completely, avoid burning trash or debris, be careful with cigarettes, and follow local burning laws. Together, these simple steps help prevent wildfires and preserve the Tar Heel State for generations to come.