TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY, N.C. — Transylvania County remains under a State of Emergency as three significant wildfires continue to threaten the area.

According to Swain County officials, the Table Rock Fire has now reached 12,000 acres and has officially breached into Transylvania County.

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Officials also reported the Southern Area Blue Team plans to complete a controlled burn of 3,000 acres on the west side of the Table Rock Fire Saturday. This aims to manage the blaze but may result in increased smoke.

The “Blue Team” began operations in Transylvania County on Friday, March 28, to assist the North Carolina Forest Service in containing fire expansion. This team is also coordinating with South Carolina crews.

“We have all kinds of equipment that has come in in the last couple of days — everything that you would expect, from firetrucks and the dozers, and we also have ariel resources,” said Jamie Laughter, the public information officer for Transylvania County.

The Persimmon Ridge Fire, which also originated from South Carolina, is now at an estimated 2,000 acres but has not breached into Transylvania County.

The third Transylvania County fire, the Rattlesnake Branch Fire, originating in Haywood County, is now at 1,200 acres has officially breached into Transylvania County. The U.S. Forest Service have confirmed it is working to contain this fire.

TABLE ROCK FIRE OFFICIALLY CROSSES INTO TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY, REACHES 11,000 ACRES BURNED

While the rain will not be enough to put out the flames alone, it is a positive light for those fighting it.

“Wind has been a huge issue in the past several days, particularly in the afternoon — we saw wind pick up in the temperature go up. What we’re having today with this higher humidity is already helping, and if we can get a little bit of rain in there, we do feel like that is going to help to establish more the fire,” Laughter said.