Full Notification

From Polk County Emergency Management/Fire Marshal
8:00pm 3/2/25 --

176 Fire Update
As of 8:00pm the 176 fire is 30% contained and has burned over 500 acres. Back burning operations are continuing but will be ending soon. North Carolina Forest Service conducted back burns in the areas of Bear Creek Rd, Hanging Rock Rd, Ocean View Ln, and on 176 near Tau Rock Vineyard Ln. More back burn operations will continue tomorrow. Crews will remain on scene overnight doing structure protection and monitoring the fire lines.
Additional out of county crews are working tonight and more will be here tomorrow to assist with the fire operations. There has been rumors that the fire has crossed 176 on the river side of the road. This is not true, the fire remains on the right side of 176 going towards Saluda.
The decision to lift the evacuation order will be made tomorrow after back burn operations are complete. The emergency shelter is still open for anyone affected by the fire. We continue to ask for folks to please avoid the fire area so crews can safely work.


Burn Ban in Effect
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As of 3PM on March 2, 2025, The Polk County Fire Marshal’s Office, in accordance with the North Carolina Fire Prevention Code, section 307.1 has issued a ban on all open burning within a 100 feet of a structure.
 
This ban is in effect due to the extremely dangerous fire conditions and will remain in effect until conditions drastically improve and the ban is cancelled.