Governor Josh Stein visited Buncombe County to express gratitude to the North Carolina Forest Service for their efforts to safeguard communities during the wildfire season. His visit underscores the growing concern over the increased wildfire risk in Western North Carolina, exacerbated by debris left in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
“A year and a half after Hurricane Helene, despite great collaboration to remove 16 million cubic yards of debris, the remaining debris is fueling wildfire danger across western North Carolina,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Folks in western North Carolina know all too well how Mother Nature can wreak havoc, and they can protect themselves by staying vigilant and following burn restrictions. I am continuing to push for the resources needed to reduce these risks and keep people safe.”
The North Carolina Forest Service reports that more than 4,300 wildfires have occurred in the state in 2026, with human activities responsible for 99 percent of them. Although substantial efforts have been made by state contractors and the US Army Corps of Engineers to clear over 16 million cubic yards of debris from roads, waterways, and private lands, the remnants of Hurricane Helene continue to pose a significant fire hazard in the region.
During his visit, Governor Stein introduced the NC Forest Service’s Disaster Mitigation Program (DMP), a new initiative aimed at reducing wildfire threats. This program will soon allow property owners to request no-cost removal of hazardous debris, enhance fire breaks, and support prescribed burning. Residents of Western NC can find more details about the Disaster Mitigation Program at ncforestservice.gov.
“For western North Carolina families and communities, recovery is still ongoing, and wildfire risk is another real concern they are having to navigate at the same time,” said Matt Calabria, Director of GROW NC. “I encourage western North Carolinians to take advantage of trusted information, practical tools, and state resources that can help them prepare.”
Residents are advised to utilize official state tools to:
- Learn how to safely prevent human-caused wildfires
- Understand current burn restrictions and fire conditions
- Strengthen home and property readiness through defensible space and home hardening
- Review evacuation routes, alerts, and family emergency plans
- Share prevention and preparedness information with neighbors and local networks
Through ReadyNC.gov, North Carolina Emergency Management offers guidance on preparedness, alerts, evacuation details, and emergency planning tools for residents at risk from wildfires and other natural disasters.
In March, Governor Stein proposed his third Helene recovery budget for Western North Carolina, urging the General Assembly to allocate $792 million for continued recovery efforts. The proposal includes $17 million dedicated to wildfire mitigation and preparedness, repair of state parks, restoration of public land access, and rebuilding essential forestry facilities.
Click here to read Governor Stein’s Recovery Budget proposal.
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