News

Poplar Drive fire drew 66 agencies to Edneyville

By Lightning Reports, Published: November 13, 2023

Nearly 400 firefighters and other emergency workers from 66 agencies from Henderson County and across the state joined forces to put down the Poplar Drive fire, the county's chief communications officer said.

The 18 agencies from the county included emergency management, EMS, the sheriff's office, rescue squad and fire & rscue departments while the 48 agencies outside agencies traveled from as far as the Triangle and the Outer Banks.

The 400 workers does not include the volunteers from Fruitland Baptist Church who helped serve food nor the crew from North Carolina Baptist Men that cooked the meals.

"Basically that number is just the agencies from Henderson County and those who came to Henderson County to help so the total number is much greater than 400," said Mike Morgan, the communications chief.

The Poplar Drive Fire in Henderson County is now 75 percent contained and remained  at 434 acres, the N.C. Forest Service said. Percent containment represents sections of fire line that pose no escape risk without further action from firefighters.

Firefighters continue to aggressively mop up inside containment lines, patrol around structures, reduce the risk of falling snags and strengthen containment lines where necessary.